Lesser Yellowlegs

Very natural shot with an interesting setting. Well done.

Really sweet photo - the white BG really makes the bird pop and the detail on the eel grass on the larger photo is really nice.

There is nothing I don't like about this shot.

It's the best Yellowlegs photo I remember seeing.

I don't think I've ever seen the lesser before. Its legs are so excellently stilt-like. The light's great, diffuse and specular at the same time, and the background wave frames the bird nicely.

Nice, shot David. I go along with the other's on this one. Very unique.

What a lovely scene! I think the OOF bird in the background really makes the image. If anything a little more room on the right would be nice, to de-centralise the main subject, but that's very minor indeed.

It's beautiful!!

Lovely setting , actually a very pretty photo Dave !
These look like Greater Yellowlegs to me though bud. Look at the greenish slightly upturned bill.

Nick:
I delayed posting this because of uncertainty about ID. I have photos of other Yellowlegs in the same general area that are larger, have more extensive dark bars on the flanks, and have longer bills with a more pronounced upturn. The local Audubon experts looked at the images and agreed with the Lesser ID. I'm in no way committed to having them be Lesser
If the NPN experts agree that these are Greater, I will be more than happy to change the title.
Dave

this is a nice image. I like the detail in the bird and the habitat, as well as the oof bird on the left. I think that it feels a little centered, if you have more room on the right, it might be nice to see.

Nice pose and setting and a very crisp image, David. I like the sharpness of the grass.

Great three dimensional effect, David. Thanks to the fine detail, composition and use of DOF, that bird on the right seems about to walk out of the frame!

I love the pose of that front bird. Very elegant.

Love the birds and habitat David, another keeper in the bag! Perhaps the best lesser Ylegs I've seen.
Well done!

The low angle, wet grass and sparkling water creates a very fresh feeling. Underappreciated species well photographed.

Brilliantly done! I think I'd side with Nick in that this may be a Greater, but I am not an expert by any means.

Great 'perch' David. Wonderful detail and I like the breaking wave in the background

cheers
Rob

Everyone:
Thanks for the comments. About ID - These are two yellowlegs I've photographed in the same general area. I'm calling the one on the left Lesser and the one on the right Greater. If you measure, the beak/head ratio is different in the two, and there are other differences, mentioned in my response to Nick. The images are not the same scale. The bird on the right is larger than the bird on the left.
I welcome input about ID because I am definitely not an expert.

Forgot the photo.

Excellent image with a number of interesting elements.

I thought I'd cleverly sidestepped the ID issue with my initial reply, but since David has asked for my input I'll give it a try. My confidence at separating the two when seen alone has diminished the longer I've been away from the NJ coast, and

I think the in-focus bird in the main image is a Lesser Yellowlegs as David has labeled it.

- the bill does seem relatively short and straight
- the streaking on the breast is somewhat diffuse rather than crisp
- the bill shows very little dark yellow/brown at the base of the lower mandible
- the facial feathers touch or almost touch the nostril (best seen on the large version)

These are troublesome species, especially when seen separately so you can't observe the obvious size differences. And judging from a photo (no matter how good) doesn't provide the other subtle clues that help with gauging size.

I hope Jim DeWitt will join in and do a thorough job on aging the bird - a step all the field guides say is essential for shorebird ID but a skill I am not very good at doing.

FWIW, I think the in focus bird is a Lesser.

Super dreamy beautiful image. love it. The clarity and bokeh are great

A wonderful setting for these two yellowlegs, love the splashing water in the bg and the pose of the bird in the foreground. I especially like the head turn you captured on the primary subject, it shows the length of the bill to the best advantage.