AUG 2023 - Rouge National Urban Park, sighting of the month - Lesser Yellowlegs
It’s not yet Fall but the migration back down south has already begun. Many shorebirds including the Lesser Yellowlegs spend their summer breeding season in the Boreal forest region of North America. They are typically seen in Southern Ontario on their way back down to the Gulf coast, Central America and South America where they will overwinter.
Slightly smaller and with a shorter straighter bill then its larger lookalike the Greater Yellowlegs. The Greater Yellowlegs bill is slightly upturned and is sometimes slightly lighter in colour at the base. Typically the Lesser Yellowlegs bill is the same length as its head whereas the Greater Yellowlegs bill can be one and a half times as long as its head, but length can vary.
This month’s sighting is of a Lesser Yellowlegs by @marlene-d. This individual is seen on it’s lanky yellow legs wading through the Water lilies, stirring the waters about with it’s long bill in search of various insects, bugs, flies and small crustaceans.
Click on photo to see full observation details including when and where in the park this shorebird was observed.
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes , photo credit @marlene-d
Out and about this month in the Rouge Park this Blue Jay calling from above caught the attention of @pinemartyn.
The feathers of birds wear out over time and need to be gradually replaced. In the case of Blue Jays they sometimes drop (molt) all their capital head feathers at the same time in which they go through a bald phase lasting for a week or two.
Click on photos to see full observation details including when and where in the park this bird was seen.
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata , photo credit @pinemartyn
Please check back for next months sighting!
