I had just photographed a Piping Plover wading in the water at Rock Harbor when I saw this other bird nearby. At first, I thought it was another Willet, as they have been very abundant everywhere this summer.
It wasn’t until I got home and was looking on the computer when Phil said, “Look at those yellow legs!” Hmmmm. I quickly looked up on my iBird Pro if Willets have yellow legs. No, they don’t. And there on the iBird Willet page, it described the Greater Yellowlegs as similar but “smaller and slimmer with a more slender bill and yellow legs, and lacking the black and white wing pattern.”
Thank you, IBird Pro for making it so easy to research the Greater Yellowlegs. Beautiful bird, don’t you think?
If you’ve never walked the boardwalk on the Red Maple Swamp Trail at Fort Hill in Eastham, put it on your list. It is always spectacular and always something new to see. Phil and I walked there early the other morning and it seemed almost mystical with all of the sounds of nature.
The wildflowers are blooming everywhere and this particular one, the Starflower, is stunning! The early morning light was just perfect.
The Starflower has 1-2 delicate 1/2″ to 3/4″ flowers with 5-9 pointed petals and 7 long stamens. The plant is small, only growing from 4-9 inches in May and June.
There always seems to be someone in our birdbath… either taking a bath or getting a drink. This little Song Sparrow was so cute as he dunked up and down.
The soft colors of this early morning reflection of the trees on Silver Spring at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was so pretty the other day. I loved the pastel-look.
What do you think?
Cape Cod daily articles on the wonderful Cape Cod places to hike, experience and photograph. A Cape Cod Outdoor Adventure Series.