Western Sandpiper

With the shorebirds molting into their breeding plumage ahead of spring migration, mid-April is the only time I'll crawl onto the San Francisco Bay flats; the mud is so soft it's not worth risking my body and gear when the birds aren't at their prettiest! This shot was achieved by laying on a semi-firm shellbed while the rising tide pushed the feeding birds towards me. The clouds were shifting around, most of my shots suffering from uneven illumination or patchy backgrounds, but I really like how the rufous pops in this clean, high-key example.

Coyote Point County Park, San Mateo County, California, 4/16/20
Canon 600mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x III on EOS 1DX Mark II
1/3200 at f/5.6, ISO 1250