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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Waders - Tobago (1 Viewer)

frogstar

Well-known member
Hi
could someone help to ID these waders taken in Tobago last week. Thanks in advance for any help received. These are my guesses
1. Don't know
2. Greater Yellowlegs
3. Spotted Sandpiper
4. Don't know



Kevin
 

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1. Solitary Sandpiper
2. Greater Yellowlegs
3. Spotted Sandpiper
4. Spotted Sandpiper

By the way, that's a great candid in the 3rd shot! The fly makes it.
 
Does this poor shot showing the size comparison with a black-bellied Whistling Duck help
 

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Does this poor shot showing the size comparison with a black-bellied Whistling Duck help

That looks like a different bird to me. I believe that is a Greater Y., while I agree with others that the Yellowlegs in the first post is a Lesser.

Jim
 
I can live with that, but I don't believe so ... I think there's too much light colour at the base of the bill. In my experience, a LEYE bill is black from base to tip.

Peter

Thanks Peter, that was my thought having looked through the books. Still interesting what everyone thinks
 
Thanks Peter, that was my thought having looked through the books. Still interesting what everyone thinks

That's not the type of pale bill base one sees on Greater--Greater has a light greenish gray bill base--the bird in the initial photo looks to have spots of yellow. The bird also has a short, straight bill (not upturned as in Greater) and an obviously delicate build.

Best,
Jim
 
I can live with that, but I don't believe so ... I think there's too much light colour at the base of the bill. In my experience, a LEYE bill is black from base to tip.

Peter

These seem to be some Lessers with noticeable pale in the bill:
http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/photos/birds/lesser-yellowlegs_242np.jpg
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2140/2385058375_0c96223aa5_z.jpg?zz=1
http://m6.i.pbase.com/g2/91/1063891/2/146736216.bQAgxOi4.jpg
http://www.gschneiderphoto.com/gall...ser-yellowlegs-foraging_5400.jpg?m=1315511098
 

Mind another look at the 2 last images you posted, Andrew? ;)

Thanks Peter, that was my thought having looked through the books. Still interesting what everyone thinks

Hi Frogstar,

The first bird you posted is a Lesser. Bill shape/length/pattern and general structure leave no doubt. Your second bird is indeed a Greater, as Jim says.
 
Hi Frogstar,

The first bird you posted is a Lesser. Bill shape/length/pattern and general structure leave no doubt. Your second bird is indeed a Greater, as Jim says.

Thank you for your clarification, I find waders a nightmare. Mind you I find gulls and warblers a nightmare as well.

Thanks to all for an enlightening discussion

Kevin
 
Sorry about the last one - got a bit carried away with the links there. The third is labelled as a Lesser - not sure having looked at it again.

Well the third one is a bit tricky, yes, and I hesitated to include it in the quote (apologies for that btw!).
Yet, the bill appears a tad too long for Lesser IMO, and within range of the shortest billed Greater. You might, understandably, disagree about the length, but the bill also appears to have a complete pale base.

Compare with these good images:

- Lesser: http://www.birdersplayground.co.uk/Lesser Yellowlegs Scilly 2011.html
- Greater (check especially the last image with a relatively short-billed bird) http://www.1000birds.com/latest20050305GYL.htm

There is another, little known, feature: the first time I read something about that was in Hayman and al. "Shorebirds" published in 1986. On Lesser, the feathering almost reaches the nostril, while there is a larger gap between the feathering and the nostril in Greater. IMO, the contentious bird fits Greatr best.

Compare:
- Lesser (last image): http://www.1000birds.com/latest20071014LY.htm
- Greater (scroll down a little, you'll find the pic and then a crop of the head just below it): http://www.birdsasart.com/bn169.htm

Edit: Forgot to mention the primary projection; usually shorter in Greater. Look up for images on google and see what you think.
 
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