my husband and I saw this bird on our weekend away-- any idea what it is?

Looks like a sandpiper to me...

If you were in Chile, It would be a "Pilpilén negro", scientific name "Haematopus ater", english translation "Blackish Oystercatcher". But, since some birds that look very similar are actually different spceies according to it's location, I can't be sure. There are many birds that migrate between both hemispheres, though.

This may sound like a load of BS, but the name of the bird is a Booby. Some of them even have blueish grey feet

Definitely not a booby or a sandpiper. Boobies are black and white and have a broader bill. Sandpipers have some brown and white on them. I think mantruc is probably right. Oystercatchers live on all continents. Don't you have a Peterson field guide?

Yep, looks like an oystercatcher...

Yes it is a Black Oystercatcher. Haematopus bachmani. Black Oystercatchers are found on rocks along the coast of CA north to Alaska. American Oystercatchers like beaches and shellbars.

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