What is this

[landscapes&birds]

I found this bird while kayaking near Lake Washington this evening. Any ideas what it might be?

 

[squirl033]

I found this bird while kayaking near Lake Washington this evening. Any ideas what it might be?

looks a lot like a Wilson's snipe. those usually have three brighter bands down the back, but it's hard to tell from this angle. where did you see it?

 

[landscapes&birds]

Thanks Rocky. It was also suggested that this could be a long-billed dowitcher, which was my first thought until I looked at my field guide...
I saw it near the mouth of the slough connecting Lake Washington to the Sammamish river. Here's another photo of it.

 

[Bill Anderson]

My vote is for a dowitcher. Not "stripey" enough for a Wilson's snipe. Hard for me to tell if it is a short-billed or a long-billed dowitcher.

 

[squirl033]

i'm certainly no expert... i agree, it's not really "stripey" enough for a snipe, but there's a good deal of variation. could certainly be a long-billed dowitcher, though... it's about the time of year they start migrating back south again.

 

[Bill Anderson]

i'm certainly no expert... i agree, it's not really "stripey" enough for a snipe, but there's a good deal of variation. could certainly be a long-billed dowitcher, though... it's about the time of year they start migrating back south again.

The "fall" migration has indeed started. Monday I saw a flock of sandpipers and a yellowlegs at the Edmonds marsh.

 

[landscapes&birds]

Looks like it's a dowitcher, thanks for helping me figure out what this was! I'll keep watching for them then, since it sounds like migration has started already. When does fall migration typically start?

 

[Bill Anderson]

When does fall migration typically start?

I was told July by a local birder. I have been seeing sandpipers and a yellowlegs at the marsh this week.