I found a Ruff on the Yakima Delta today. Many folks were able to make it
down to see it. The bird was on a mud bar that was quite distant from the
dike road but one could see enough to distingish it. The bird was quite
dark in appearance (upper side). At times we could see the yellow/orange
legs. The overall appearance was the best indication that we did not have
any of the other yellow-legged choices. The Ruff showed the classic large
body-small headed appearance. This is also true of Wilson's Phalarope but
the bird was not light enough on the underside/chest to be one. I did see
the Ruff next to both Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, unfortunately it did
not remain with these birds so others did not see the direct comparison.
Lesser Yellowlegs is much slimmer overall and though it would be dark in
breeding plumage, the Ruff was darker. The bill and body shape was wrong
for Stilt Sandpiper though the Ruff resembled Stilt Sandpiper in the way
they feed tipped far over. The bill size ruled out dowitchers. The other
dowtichers that were on the delta today were still adults in mostly breeding
plumage - very difference in appearance than the Ruff.

Other local records that we are aware of include 3 separate sightings in
1994 - one at McNary in a pond along Hwy 12 on 8/16&17, one at the Yakima
Delta on 9/26 and a different individual on 10/7. In 1999, one was at the
Yakima Delta on 9/6 and 9/13. In 2004, there was a juvenile at Lind Coulee
on 8/23 and one at Tyson Ponds on 9/11.

Other species of shorebirds at the delta today included Killdeer, Greater
and Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Spotted Sandpiper, Western and
Least Sandpipers, Baird's Sandpiper (1), Black-necked Stilt (1).

For directions go to Lower Columbia Basin Audubon's page and then to Birding
Locations. http://lowercolumbiabasinaudubon.org/ I will add flags for the
vantage point where we saw the Ruff. There's no guarantee that the water
will remain low. If we are able to relocate the bird, we will post.

Nancy

Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Richland WA