The bird in the first four of this series of 6 photos appears identical to the buff-colored Sempalmated Sandpiper that I found in exactly the same spot two years ago on almost exactly the same date (7/20/13 vs 7/21/11)(the last 2 photos)! The photos are poor quality but are sufficient for me to conclude that they are the same bird - especially given the clockwork like reappearance!

This bird was observed at Crescent Beach (south-facing beach on the Saquish portion of Duxbury Beach - actually in Plymouth, MA). Both years it was in an actively feeding flock of Semipalmated Sandpipers behaving just like its peers - and its color made it stick out. Because the back is brown at first I thought it was a Least Sandpiper, but on closer look (black legs, bill, and general gizz relative to nearby Leasts)I concluded that it had to be an aberrant Semipalmated. I do not know what causes this kind of color aberration and would welcome some insight. In 2011, some speculated that it must have "gotten into something" but that didn't seem to compute for me given the even nature of the coloring and the brownness of the back/wings. Now that bird appears, looking the same after 2 years of wear and tear, I think it must be pigmentation not some sort of stain.

It is intriguing how close the dates are. The oddly morked Ruddy Turnstone that I have been documenting has also shown up in the same spot on very nearly the same day for four out of the last five years (documentation at http://www.pbase.com/rickbowes/odd_turnstone__4_galleries). With all the variables affecting migration, it is fascinating how precise things seem to be - at least in some instances!