More on that new lifer..

If I look at shorebirds for too long, they all start to look the same.  Actually, if you don't look closely, they all DO look the same.  For instance, Least, Semi-palmated and Western Sandpipers require close looks at feet and legs to determine differences, at least to my amateur eye.  Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs do have a size difference, and some subtle differences in head and bill shape.  But if you're only looking at one, well, truthfully, my eyes can glaze over a bit, especially if the wind is howling, making the spotting scope dance in the wind. 
Just at  this point in the day, one of our friends spotted more shorebirds scattered in the wetland we had been scoping.  They were intermediate size, the usual combo of delicate browns, tans and buff.  But the overall look wasn't a familiar pattern.  The soft breast feathers ended in a neat line across the breast, leaving the belly snowy white.
Out came the field guides, up went the heart rates.   Maybe a new bird??  None of us had seen a new bird on this trip, which isn't a big deal, but seeing one.... oh yeah. 
One birder had a fair idea of what the bird was, although it was new  to her too - she paged to Pectoral Sandpiper in her Sibley's Guide, and there it was.
One of the first things to do when ID'ing a new bird is to check the distribution, to see if it is in its usual territory.  Birds can and do wander, but like they say, if you hear hoofbeats, think horses first, not zebras.   Probably not going to see a Groove-billed Ani here, a closer look will show you a big, hunched-over Raven.
Anyway, all the field marks checked out, and these birds are unusual but DO pass through Malheur on migration.  We were lucky to be here to see them.  Another point in our favor: other experienced birders had noted seeing Pectorals in this general area a few days before.  We all felt confidant and happy in adding them as 'new'  to our lists. 
White yarn strings of high clouds were bringing coolness to the afternoon, the golden marsh grasses were bending lower in the strengthening wind.  High, sweet calls from the mix of shorebirds floated to us over the silvering water.  As we headed back, the Pectorals dipped their heads and continued to feed in preparation for the continuation of their long journey south, soon to come.
 A note on bird names:  they come from some crazy places.  A lot of birds are named for the person who first discovers them, or for a friend of theirs - like Baird's Sandpiper.   I assumed that the Pectoral Sandpiper was named for the lovely color delineation on the breast.  A check in "The Dictionary of American Bird Names" proved me wrong.  I quote "...not from the distinct shield of dark breast feathers but from the inflationary sac under this which gives resonance to the male's amatory outpourings."  I love it.