Just to help avoid any possible confusion; the ruff appeared
this morning (9:00 sharp) on the left side of the Wildlife Drive,
looking away from the Visitor Center at the location described
before.
This was a classic instance of a "Car Door Handle" phenomenon
-- after we searched for an hour and a half, Ross spotted the bird
flying in just as we reached for the car door handles.
Most noticeable field mark was its bulky size contrasted especially
with the lesser yellowlegs. Also the first impression of the plumage
was that it was darker and definitely "scaly" looking, i.e., dark
colored feathers edged with a pale light brown-russet color.
The bill was thicker and more wedge shaped -- not as thin and linear
as as the yellowlegs'; it was dark save for a barely noticeable light
patch at the base (on the bird's right side only).
It seemed aggressive, chasing the yellowlegs as soon as it landed.
The yellowlegs next to the ruff while we observed it were lessers;
it'd be interesting to learn if it behaved the same around greater
yellowlegs.
Leo W.
On Apr 12, 2010, at 9:52 AM, Dan Haas wrote:
> Leo & Ross found the RUFF this AM. Best viewed from the wildlife loop,
> between marker 10 and Osprey cam. (I think that describes it)
>
> Best,
>
> Dan Haas
> |