Terek Sandpiper( Xenus cinereous)

A new bird! The Terek Sandpiper is a small migratory Palearctic Wader species and the only member of the genus Xenus. It is named after the Terek River of the Caspian Sea. I was so excited to see and be able to get a photograph of it. Apparently the genus Xenus is from the ancient Greek Xenus-Stranger and cinis, cineris- meaning ash-grey(ashes) So a great description of the bird, apart from an explanation of that incredible dished beak! Fabulous! The extra is another side shot, with a big droplet of water on the underneath.