Short-billed Dowitcher

Absent from California while breeding at Arctic latitudes during the summer, Short-billed Dowitchers are abundant around San Francisco Bay from September to April. They are super fast fliers, and I froze this eye-level individual during my first visit to my favorite local shorebird spot here in San Mateo. I was stoked to avoid all shadows, but that's more lucky than anything else! This bird is in winter/basic plumage. The next shot is the same bird captured in the downstroke a split second later. Gotta love the 1DX2 and 14 frames per second.

San Mateo County, California, 9/29/19
Canon 600mm f/4 IS II on EOS 1DX Mark II
1/5000 at f/4.5, ISO 400