I would be very grateful for help with identifying these birds, all photos were made on Vancouver island. Bird 1 was on its own, 2 and 3 were together.
Bird 1

1 by PhotoBadgers, on Flickr
Bird 2

4 by PhotoBadgers, on Flickr
Bird 3

3 by PhotoBadgers, on Flickr
Birds 2 & 3

5 by PhotoBadgers, on Flickr

Thank you,
Katherine

They all look to be Western Sandpipers.You must have a good lens and camera.These pics are very good.Ted Victoria,BC

I believe these birds may be Sanderlings, as none of these birds seem to fit the field marks for a Western.

Don't look like Sanderlings. Western Sandpipers. Sanderlings more rufous on upperparts and head. Rufous crown and ear coverts make these Westerns.

These are Sanderlings transitioning into or fully in breeding plumage. Westerns are not as rufous as two of the individuals photographed. Sanderlings are apparently quite variable in colour in breeding plumage.

If you do a Google image search for "sanderling may" I'm sure you will find some that look quite similar to the ones you photographed.

Try here for example:
http://briansmallphoto.com/sanderling.html

Jeremy Gatten
Saanichton, B.C.

I agree with Jeremy, these are Sanderling.

_________________
Steven Roias

I think they are Sanderling.

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Liron

Bird photography equipment
Canon EOS 60D
Canon EF 400mm f5.6L USM
Sigma Flash & Vello Flash Bracket

http://lironsnaturephotography.com
http://lironsnaturephotogalleries.yolasite.com/
http://flickr.com/photos/lirons-nature-photography

Thanks guys.Sanderlings they are.So used to only seeing them in fall plumage.Ted

Thanks, Jeremy and Steven for setting me straight. Definitely got on the wrong track on those guys.

Thanks everyone, I really hoped that they were two different bird species

Jeremy, Thanks for the link, found a lot of useful info there!

Katherine