Posted by Don Roberson (165.227.226.82) on December 09, 2000 at 17:24:21:
The wader is an obvious yellowlegs for a variety of reasons, including the rather bright yellow legs. My first impression was "Greater" and perhaps that is why Joe has picked this shot, but I believe it is a Lesser Yellowlegs for these reasons:
1) The black base to the bill; on Greater the basal third is decidedly gray. While there is a marginal tiny area of greenish-black at the very base on my monitor, in no way is there the extensively gray base typical of Greater;
2) The dark loral stripe from bill to eye; on Greater this area is typically much paler, giving a "blank" look for the face;
3) The spotted cap contrasting with paler nape; both areas are more uniformly pale on Greater;
4) The yellow wash to spots on the back/scaps, and (perhaps) the darker color of the background of those feathers, giving a more patterned & colorful appearance;
5) The extensive white spotting (almost bars) on the tertials; on Greater the white spots are individual "indentations" on a mostly black feather. Here, the tertials have lots of white spots "bumping into" each other.
6) The whole stance looks like a more short-necked less rangy bird -- but this is a jizz thing hard to judge.
Joe says this shot was taken 29 Aug 1986 at the "Salinas Sewer Ponds" (more on that misnomer in a moment). I was at this site, according to my notes, on 31 Aug 1986. There were 6 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, and zero Lesser Yellowlegs. [So if I'm right, this bird had left and was replaced by.... two Buff-breasts!]. It is too bad that "Salinas Sewer Ponds" got into the birders' lexicon. Unlike other sewage disposal ponds elsewhere, this site was never used for sewage. It is strictly used for agricultural wastewater after the processing of the Salinas Valley vegetable & grain fields. We have called it the "Salinas wastewater ponds" for the last several years, or, more simply, the "Salinas ponds." Alas, it is not currently open to the public but it may be after the finishing current renovations. The City got FEMA monies after floods sev. years ago almost washed it away.