Help me identify a bird.?

Question

I have never seen one like this before. It looks like it could be a shore bird, although I see it at our community 3-hole golf course greens, about 3 miles from the Pacific in central California It is slim, has long legs like a shore bird, looks a lot like and is the size of a plover. Except it has a long white neck with a narrow black ring in the middle. And has a yellow beak. The back, wings and head are grey, the underside is off-white. It seems used to people and walks slowly along the short grass seeking grubs. I have only seen it for a week and have not seen it in flight.
I have searched my bird books and googled but see nothing just like it.

Answer 1

It sounds like a Killdeer, though they have 2 black rings on the neck and the bill isnt yellow. They are commonly found on golf courses. Semipalmated Plover almost matches the discription, but they wouldnt be on a golf course, where Killdeer love them. I assume the other person meant Black-necked Stilt, but they are black instead of gray and dont have a ring around the neck. Also they are aquatic and would not be feeding on the grass. Ringed Plover is a European bird, so it wouldnt be that.

Answer 2

It could possibly be a type of plover...a Ringed Plover.

Here's a pic:
Does it look like this? It's legs and beak look orange, but trust me, they're yellow until the clouds are in the sky...then they look orange.
http://www.leighjauncey.ukonline.co.uk/Stanpit/images/Ringed_Plover_2.jpg

Answer 3

I'm thinking Killdeer, because they would be pretty common and are plover sized. They do not have a yellow bill however.

http://www.wolfeisland.ca/birdwalk/images/killdeer.jpg

Answer 4

Try to get a photo of the bird posted, this will help with identification.

Answer 5

A stilt because in wikipedia it states Stilts typically feed on aquatic insects and other small creatures and nest on the ground surface in loose colonies.
or a sanderling which also in wikipedia it states It eats small crabs and other small invertebrates