California - November 2009
Waders / Shorebirds: page 3
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Black Oystercatcher
Killdeer
Grey Plover
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Willets
Long-billed Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Lesser Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Long-billed Dowitchers
Least Sandpiper
Surfbird
Black Turnstone
Wilson's Snipe
Spotted Sandpiper
This page is dedicated to both of the Yellowlegs.
Both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs were widespread but on at Obsidian Butte, Salton Sea, did I see both species together. The Greater Yellowlegs depicted here are from Obsidian Butte (top most picture) and La Merced (subsequent pictures), both birds are non-breeding adult and were both photographed from the car.
Due to the birds not being especially close and the soaring temperatures creating a heat haze these images are the best that I was able to obtain.
Most of the Lesser Yellowlegs found, certainly the photographable ones, were at the Salton Sea on the small pool along Obsidian Butte and at Morro Bay.
The bird standing tall below at the waters edge is a non-breeding adult. It was a relatively confiding bird feeding in the tidal inlet at the Morro Bay Marina.
The Lesser Yellowlegs below, photographed at the Salton Sea, is plainer above and less well streaked on the head and neck than the Morro Bay bird but is still aged as a non-breeding adult.
The small pool at Obsidian Butte, Salton Sea, held both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs but they were actually relatively difficult to photograph well due to heat haze and the fact the minute I got out of the car to try and get closer they would depart. These two birds together then were the best result I could get from photographing from the car, not ideal as not fully out of the water but good in some respects for ID purposes. Both of these birds are featured individually above.
The differences between these often confused species are apparent here: the longer obviously pale based bill with a slight upwards tilt of the Greater; the larger size and bolder head and neck streaking of that species also. The Lesser Yellowlegs even shows a plainer crown giving a capped appearance.
