Lesser Yellowlegs?

[kastern]

Went for my daily walk today over to EaglePoint Park, saw a Red Tail Hawk on the way, things were pretty quiet bird wise, a lot of the lovely 'weedy' habitat has been recently bulldozed. Looks like housing construction is going to start soon Along the shore saw the usual gulls, Mallards, heard one heron, further along saw a pair of Gadwalls and some Hooded Merganser with the Mallards and then spotted a pair of Shorebirds that I'm pretty sure were Yellow Legs. There was someone with a dog quite close to them (the birds were just across the water) and by the time I got there they flew. I see Yellow Legs over here during Migration, but I've never seen any in winter before. They definately had very 'yellow' legs and acted and sounded like Yellow Legs. When I checked Sibley's Lesser's shouldn't be here at all, Greater's could just possibly be here.

Kathy

[Gord]

Either species of yellowlegs, that's a good sighting! One could probably be safe to assume they are greater yellowlegs, but wierder things have happened then a pair of lesser yellowlegs in southern BC in the winter.

Hope you get a good look if the dogs stay away! Sad to hear the good sparrow habitat in the development is starting to go.

[kastern]

Saw those same two birds again today in the exact same spot, first time since the initial sighting. I managed some pictures today and have just finished studying them with my Sibley's in my lap and had come to the conclusion that they were juvenile Greater Yellowlegs. It helped that today there were two Kildeer also in the same location, for size comparison although the Kildeer remained laying on the gravel bank in the sun while the Yellowlegs poked about in the water. The bill is definitely longer than the head, the plumage on the back is in a scaly pattern which lead to the juvenile ID. In the bright sun they appeared much browner than the field guides show them to be, definitely a clear white stomach but shading across the upper part of the breast. The ends of the wings and tail, where they met appeared to be black.

[Gord]

Good work! I am not aware of what numbers of yellowlegs we usually get wintering in the Lower Mainland. I will look into this and see what I find out. My records show that earliest greater yellowlegs records is for March 9 (Vedder Canal), and the latest is November 19 (Reifel Sanct).

Feel free to post the pictures (or provide the link when you post the photos to your site if you intend to).

[kastern]

I haven't exactly figured out how to post pictures here yet. I have printed off the instructions and one of these days when I get brave enough I'll give it a try. As for the 'Kathy's Korner' site, I think the administrator is away because my latest stuff hasn't shown up there yet.
Kathy