Another odd gathering of birds at the rice field pond that has been drained in preparation for repairs and a controlled burn.
Northern Shoveler and four YellowlegsMagnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
November 3, 2022
… or more precisely, a snack.
A Yellowlegs was picking his way through some marsh stubble on a recent grey morning.
This Greater Yellowlegs was working a shallow pond.
He was quick.
And successful!
His selection might have been a bit too big.
Rearrange it, then swallow.
Let’s look for more.
I’m going with the Merlin Bird ID suggestion that this is the Greater Yellowlegs, not the Lesser Yellowlegs. The distinction is in a comparison of their beak size to their head size: the Greater YL’s beak is 1.5 times the size of his head, with the Lesser YL’s beak being much shorter.
April 25, 2019
This pair of shore birds, probably Lesser Yellowlegs, worked their way up a marsh inlet as the tide was going out, probing for breakfast.
Other Yellowlegs that I have seen actually have obvious yellow legs. I’m not sure if this pair is just too muddy to tell for sure or if it’s their age.
Or they are a different bird. The Merlin identification app also suggested they might be Long-billed Dowitchers.
They didn’t find much sustenance when I was watching, but they were pretty in the morning sun.
