Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) at Cabrillo Beach, San Pedro, CA, on 30 March 2015

The Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) is a shorebird that nests mainly in northern Europe and Asia and winters mainly in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and India. I few individuals stray to North America each year, http://www.wfopublications.org/Rare_Birds/Ruff/Ruff.html . Ruff sightings are more common in fall than in winter in California. I found the bird in the photos at Cabrillo Beach on Monday, 30 March, 2015. There is no question as to its correct identification, but my assumption that it is a female might not be accurate based on its large body size.