Stepping Out

Yep.  This blog, here in its nascent stages, has been staggering.  Slowed by its author's neglect.  Time for him to take some steps..

Living here in the Santa Cruz Mountains puts me in a location where I can travel "over the hill" with a bit more expediency.  "Over the hill" is a term people in these parts of the Monterey Bay-area give to going over the Santa Cruz Mountains and into the southern portion of the greater San Francisco Bay-area.

This morning I decided to take a few steps; a few steps, over the hill and into south bay (SF Bay)-area of Santa Clara and San Jose - ish.

More specifically stepping into the part of Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge that is within Santa Clara County.

These 3 words once again rang out: Old world species.

Ruff (Calidris pugnax)

While this wading bird has bred in Alaska, ultimately it is a Eurasian species and a rare visitor.  In some tomes the "Ruff" belongs in its own genus, and the only member of it, Philomachus.
In other, slightly newer, references it has been placed in the larger genus of shorebirds Calidris.  

Since there are many members of genus Calidris here in North America I will refer it there.  It won't be as lonely this winter.  This bird winters mainly in Africa.

Calidris pugnax

Curiously, the female C. pugnax bears a common name of "Reeve."  Only the males are properly called "Ruff."

Google search "Ruff."  In particular, the Ruff's breeding plumage.  Gathered in leks, the Ruffs' breeding plumage it gaudy, attention-getting, bordering both ridiculous and spectacular.
However, not being in Eurasia in the summer, this bird's non-breeding wintering plumage is less-than-conspicuous.

However there are some points of diagnoses on this rare bird, in its ho-hum winter plumage, among so many other... Calidris shorebirds and waders.

While it is about the size of a yellowlegs, it has a smallish head in proportion to its body.  In addition the bill is small.

It's tertial feathers are rather "loose, floppy" and at times that really shows; see below photo:

Also, at times, its scapulars (or feathers on its "back") can stick up on an otherwise rounded back.

In addition to the field marks mentioned above, one other distinguishing and rather unique field mark is one I look forward to showing.

The Ruff/Reeve shows a white U on its upper-tail coverts.  This is shown in flight:

Also a weak, thin, white line appears on the upper-side of wing in flight.

Old World Species. National Wildlife Refuges belong to everyone..

Step out onto the boardwalk, behind the Environmental Center, at the section of Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge in Santa Clara County.