ML471637501

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

First observed a single adult foraging beside a Greater Yellowleg, providing helpful comparison of relative size; being much too small to for Lesser Yellowleg. It had shorter legs and shorter straight bill that made it appear more thick; the bill itself was darker at the distal end and yellow/green at the proximal whereas as a Lesser Yellowleg would have a more uniformly dark longer bill that would make it appear more thin as it tapered at tip and a Spotted Sandpiper; (another look alike that was also present foraging nearby) would have varying degrees of red/orange in the bill. Very prominent white eyerings; much wider than those present in both Yellowlegs. The upperparts was more solid brown especially the crown being more solid brown than the Yellowlegs who show more white mottling on the back and more white streaks on the brown crown. The upperparts were intricately marked with buffy notches fringing around darker brown internal markings at the scapulars, however only outer-edged notches around wing coverts, most noticeable were the tertials that had buffy notches on the outer edge of the shaft which neither of the Yellowlegs posses. It’s primaries only slightly poking under the tertials and even less so past the tail whereas it’s closest look-alike here, the Lesser Yellowleg would have a much significantly longer primary projection past its tail. Mostly white underparts with evenly gray smudges on its sides and lighter so around its throat; unlike the sparsely brown speckled with white on the hindnecks of both Yellowlegs. As it flew off it vocalized and another individual responded giving us a good opportunity for audio recordings. Second adult joined it in flight and landed in Pond C together. In flight the dark central tail feathers and rump were observed (shown in pictures attached) yet another fieldmark that neither of the Yellowlegs show. Both foraged and preened side by side even as they flushed and returned. Got pictures and audio recordings. Apologies for the lengthy edited description, which is more for the benefit of the students taking Shorebird workshop taught by Sylvia G, so that we use as a comparative specimen for future fieldtrips.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS R5

Lens

RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

ISO

800

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/8.0

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

2227 pixels x 1487 pixels

Original file size

2.63 MB