There have been several greater yellowlegs around the marsh lately, especially on the edges of the tidal creek, since they are shore birds. This one, however, was fast asleep, standing on one of its long yellow legs on a floating log in the cove at the sailing school the other day. They breed farther north as well as in Cape Breton and northern Nova Scotia, but some always spend time here in the fall on their migration route.
On Sunday, May 8th, not too much in evidence at the marsh - saw three pairs of Canada geese, but not the pair with young, darn - but did get several shots of this greater yellowlegs busily feeding in the shallows off one of the points. It caught at least two minnows while I was watching.
This pair of greater yellowlegs which I caught this morning is newly arrived at the marsh, on the way to their nesting grounds farther north. They may spend days or a few weeks here before moving on, and then may stop here in the late summer for several weeks before heading south. When flushed, they emit a distinctive, ringing tew, tew, tew call.
I was able to get this fairly close shot of a Greater Yellowlegs this morning, also on the stream next to the marsh. The tide was partway out, leaving mud banks exposed, which made for easier feeding. There were a number of these sandpipers running along the banks and into the water foraging for food.
This morning I had to check to see who - or what - was on the little "islet" where the cormorants congregate. There was quite an assortment of birdlife - two cormorants, seven black ducks, one great blue heron (it's been a while since I have seen one of those), and one yellowlegs (the small bird in the center of the above shot), a kind of sandpiper. I think it was a Greater Yellowlegs (there's also a Lesser Yellowlegs) because I had heard its distinctive, fairly loud, deew. deew. deew call not long before.
I never would have known these birds were there if I hadn't had my binoculars with me, so it pays to carry them when visiting the marsh. You never know what you'll see!
