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djleahy · Monday 7th May 2007, 05:46

I had a fine trip to the ocean beach today, photographing many familiar birds in breeding plumage for the first time. In the lagoon at Pescadero, I got these photos of yellowlegs. The beak length and shape seems good for greater, but this always seems a bit iffy to me. However the extensive barring on the flanks seems like a solid greater yellowlegs field mark. Am I getting this right?

I never have seen a yellowlegs here in northern California that I could convince myself was a lesser yellowlegs, are they that much harder to find?

David Swanepoel · Monday 7th May 2007, 07:19

Looks like greater, based on fairly heavy flank streaking and bill length, but I'm no expert

JANJ · Monday 7th May 2007, 14:02

A fine set of images - showing classic Greater Yellowlegs and as mentioned by David - heavy flank barring and longer than head - slightly upturned bill - quite obvious in these great images!

JanJ

djleahy · Monday 7th May 2007, 16:49

Thanks guys. I will continue to keep my eyes open for the elusive Lesser. Perhaps the fall migration is the best shot for Lesser around here.

Monday 7th May 2007, 05:46	#1
djleahy aged corvid Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Portola Valley, California Posts: 641 My location	yellowlegs id help? Pescadero marsh, California I had a fine trip to the ocean beach today, photographing many familiar birds in breeding plumage for the first time. In the lagoon at Pescadero, I got these photos of yellowlegs. The beak length and shape seems good for greater, but this always seems a bit iffy to me. However the extensive barring on the flanks seems like a solid greater yellowlegs field mark. Am I getting this right? I never have seen a yellowlegs here in northern California that I could convince myself was a lesser yellowlegs, are they that much harder to find? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Dave Leahy "don't eat anything larger than your head"

Monday 7th May 2007, 16:49	#4
djleahy aged corvid Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Portola Valley, California Posts: 641 My location	Thanks guys. I will continue to keep my eyes open for the elusive Lesser. Perhaps the fall migration is the best shot for Lesser around here. __________________ Dave Leahy "don't eat anything larger than your head"

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Monday 7th May 2007, 07:19	#2
David Swanepoel Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cape Town Posts: 41	Looks like greater, based on fairly heavy flank streaking and bill length, but I'm no expert

Monday 7th May 2007, 14:02	#3
JANJ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 7,788	A fine set of images - showing classic Greater Yellowlegs and as mentioned by David - heavy flank barring and longer than head - slightly upturned bill - quite obvious in these great images! JanJ

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