Pic of the Day

Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca; Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

     The Yellowlegs has long been one of my favorite shorebirds.  I first photographed one in Homer, Alaska more than three decades ago.  I found a pair of Lesser Yellowlegs at the head of Beluga Lake that were very cooperative and allowed me to take frame-filling shots.  It was exciting photographing the Lesser Yellowlegs on its breeding ground.  They are so wary during migration here in Alabama, that it is almost impossible to get good photographs. 

     There are two species of yellowlegs, Lesser and Greater.  In the 30 years since I photographed the Lesser Yellowlegs in Alaska, I have not had an opportunity to photograph another until I found these Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs on the Bolivar Peninsula.  

     The Greater Yellowlegs is the,……greater, of the two yellowlegs.  The Greater Yellowlegs (above) measures around 14 inches long, while the Lesser Yellowlegs (below) measures 10 ½ inches.  When the two are flocked together their apparent size is obvious, but when seen individually they can be a bit hard to differentiate.  Vocalization is the best way to tell the difference between the two species.  The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America describes the call of the Greater Yellowlegs as a loud, slightly descending series of three or more tew notes; while the Lesser Yellowlegs is a higher, shorter note. 

Check out this link to see the Lesser Yellowlegs shot in Alaska: http://www.bobbyharrison.blogspot.com/search/label/Lesser%20Yellowlegs from my March 25, 2010 post.

Lesser Yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes; Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

Top photo:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1000 second @ f5.6

Bottom Photo:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/400 second @ f8

Pic of the Day

     Lesser Yellowlegs – Homer, Alaska: Lesser Yellowlegs are commonly seen on mudflats here in North Alabama during migration and have long been a target for my camera. They arrive in March for a few weeks then continue north, some wing all the way to Alaska to nest in wetlands that boarder lakes and ponds, as well as the open tundra. I found this bird and its mate at the north end of Beluga Lake in Homer, Alaska. Yellowlegs are extremely wary, and difficult to approach on foot when they are migrating. But, on their nesting grounds they are fierce, and guard their territory with an aggressive tenacity. As I walked into the wetlands of Beluga Lake I was immediately met with this yellowlegs. It flew directly to me and alighted on top of a small tree less than 20 feet away and began scolding me. I quickly position my self so that I would have spruce trees across the lake as my background and hurriedly shot a couple of rolls of film. After about 5 minutes of shooting I retreated........ surrendering to the threats of the Lesser Yellowlegs.

Nikon F5, Nikkor 500mm f4 with 1.4 teleconverter - Kodachrome 64