Red knot?

[Connie Mier]

Calling all shorebird experts. Can you please tell me if the birds surrounding the skimmer are red knots or sanderlings? Thank you!
Connie

[Daniel Cadieux]

Connie, do you have any image of these little birds with the bill showing?

In any case, the relative size compared to the skimmer, as well as the brown-tinged plumage (rather than grayer) suggest non-breeding Dunlin to me (breeding would have black bellies)...but I'd really love to see at least one with the bill showing!

I'll let the shorebird ID experts chime in as I could very well be wrong:D

[Dave Hassell]

I agree Daniel. Sanderling have black legs and Knot are a different shape.

Dave.

[Connie Mier]

I think you are right Daniel. Here is another photo that shows the beak. Thank you!

[Richard Stern]

Hi Connie,

I agree with the others that all the birds you're referring to in the original post are Dunlin. However, in your 2nd post there are some Sanderling as well - the paler, smaller shorebirds with the short bill, flying just above the Oystercatchers, and many of the birds on the rocks below them.

Richard

[Myer Bornstein]

I agree Dunlins with Sanderlings