't Q / " l Single, small waders seen away from their usual habitat can pose JL Jr " identification problems that would not occur in more usual situations. When that wader is determined to roost, bill tucked into its scapulars (plate 75), the problems are compounded and identification is even less easy. Now (plate 98, below) it is shown rather more alert. To consider our mystery bird: it is very pale, almost albinistic, with proportions that show it to be a small wader, a small 'Calidrid' since it lacks the collared appearance of the small ringed plovers Charadrius. The upperparts show a mixture of freshly acquired, rounded, dark-centred feathers and a few uniform, pale grey, rather pointed, worn feathers. This mixture is typical of waders in spring, moulting from winter to summer plumage. Its legs are dark, so the choice is between the dark-legged stints (Semipalmated Calidris pusilla and Western Sandpipers C. mauri, Little C. minuta and Red-necked Stints C. mficollis, ignoring the very occasional dark-legged Temminck's Stint C. temminckii), and the other three small Calidrids: Sandcrling C. alba, and White-rumped CJuscicollis and Baird's Sandpipers C. bairdii.The last two species have rather long wings compared with the other species, extending beyond the tail and giving them both a more elongated appearance than the others including the mystery bird. White-rumped and Baird's can thus be eliminated. At this stage of moult, Semipalmated Sandpiper acquires very dark mantle and scapular feathers, with relatively narrow buffish fringes, and Western Sandpiper rapidly acquires