Greater Or Lesser?

There are two larger species of sandpipers found in our region-the Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs.
Honestly, I have only seen the birds behind glass exhibited in our Henry Ferguson Museum, so rounding the corner along Dock Beach I immediately took notice of this very lanky legged and long billed shorebird.

The tides were loaded with plant life, as I noted the animated behavior of the lone bird swinging its bill from side to side, skimming the water for insects and small fish.

While I could not see the color of its legs immersed under water, as it took flight I heard:

“dear! dear! dear!”

Watching its white tail fly away across West Harbor, I realized these were all clues to identifying the differences between a Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs…..