[EBB Sightings] Lesser Yellowlegs

Rusty,  I wish I just "knew" this. Maybe in 20 years
I'll have it dialed.  But a short stint on the web
turned up the following:

"As is typical of shorebirds, the Lesser Yellowlegs
migrates both north and, especially, south earlier
than songbirds, in large part because their young
require less parental care. Departure from the
breeding grounds is in June for failed breeders,
mid-July for successful breeders (females depart ahead
of males), and late July to early August (occasionally
September) for juveniles. Migration is usually in
small groups mixed with other shorebirds; flock size
increases during bad weather. Most Eastern breeders
fly southeast to the Maritimes and New England, then
make short flights south along the Atlantic coast to
the southern states. Most Western breeders follow a
mid-continental route west of the Mississippi to the
Gulf States. Relatively few follow the Pacific coast."


So, it would seem that mid-August to late September
would be our (Alameda Co.) normal lesser yellow-leg
timeframe.  Your unerring sense of anomaly has
educated me once again: These guys are probably 6
weeks past peak and maybe 2-3 weeks past reasonably
tardy.  

========================

Other Hayward Shoreline notes for Sunday:
Oakland Bird Club and Albany Adult School had an adult
Prairie Falcon, 3, maybe more Ruddy Turnstones, and
Rusty led us all to 3 female Great-tailed Grackles.

Bob Power
--- Rusty Scalf  wrote:

> 
> The Albany Adult School fieldt trips this weekend to
> Hayward Shoreline had a single Lesser Yellowlegs on
> Saturday and three today, Sunday.  This strikes me
> as rather late.  Any comments about this?
> 
>      Rusty Scalf
>