{"id":60988,"date":"2019-10-24T05:35:24","date_gmt":"2019-10-24T11:35:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=60988"},"modified":"2025-09-11T06:41:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T11:41:33","slug":"focusing-on-a-greater-yellowlegs-with-a-small-fish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/10\/24\/focusing-on-a-greater-yellowlegs-with-a-small-fish\/","title":{"rendered":"Focusing On A Greater Yellowlegs With A Small Fish"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GreaterGreater Yellowlegs with a small fish in its bill \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/4000, ISO 1000, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Yesterday morning I was able to get back out into the field and although the bird activity was slower than I would have liked I enjoyed myself. The morning started off with clouds hanging over the Wasatch Mountains which meant low light conditions early on then later the sunlight broke through those clouds.<\/p>\n

I was delighted to have a Greater Yellowlegs in my viewfinder for a little while yesterday morning at Farmington Bay WMA in good light and with a small fish in its bill. I’d watched the Greater Yellowlegs foraging and most of the time the prey was too tiny to see but this little fish was a nice catch for the shorebird and for me.<\/p>\n

\"GreaterGreater Yellowlegs with a small fish \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/4000, ISO 1000, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Greater Yellowlegs hang around in northern Utah even after the snow starts flying and ice starts to form on the water. They are some of the first shorebirds to show up here in spring and some of the last to leave during fall migration. I’ve personally seen them here as late as December and as early as February.<\/p>\n

You may have noticed that I had my ISO for these two images set at 1000, I had bumped it up earlier because of the cloudy start to the day and then forgot to dial my ISO back to a lower setting when the sun came out. Stuff happens.<\/p>\n

I can remember a time when I’d only use ISO 1000 under extreme low light conditions because of the noise high ISO’s used to create in photos taken with older camera bodies but with newer, more advanced DSLR bodies noise really hasn’t been a big issue at ISO 1000 for me.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Greater Yellowlegs photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’d watched the Greater Yellowlegs foraging and most of the time the prey was too tiny to see but this little fish was a nice catch for the shorebird and for me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":155339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,1022,697,596,26],"tags":[4004,970,5750,5552,4620,5290,4432,4136,7872,4105,4094,530,4106,3975,274,7873,5690,3996,4095,5127],"class_list":["post-60988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-davis-county-utah","category-farmington-bay-wma","category-greater-yellowlegs","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-autumn","tag-beak","tag-bill","tag-fall","tag-fall-migration","tag-fish","tag-foraging","tag-fry","tag-greater-yellowlegs","tag-marsh","tag-migration","tag-prey","tag-shorebird","tag-shorebirds-2","tag-small-fish","tag-tringa-melanoleuca","tag-water","tag-wetlands","tag-yellowlegs"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/greater-yellowlegs-small-fish-mia-mcpherson-3681.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-fRG","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":95271,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/09\/21\/migrating-greater-yellowlegs\/","url_meta":{"origin":60988,"position":0},"title":"Migrating Greater Yellowlegs","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 21, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Greater Yellowlegs migrate starting in the summer until late in the fall and return early in the spring. I will be seeing them until about December here in Utah.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Greater Yellowlegs with a droplet of water on its bill, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/greater-yellowlegs-migrating-mia-mcpherson-4846.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/greater-yellowlegs-migrating-mia-mcpherson-4846.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/greater-yellowlegs-migrating-mia-mcpherson-4846.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/greater-yellowlegs-migrating-mia-mcpherson-4846.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10167,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/11\/06\/greater-yellowlegs-and-its-distorted-reflection\/","url_meta":{"origin":60988,"position":1},"title":"Greater Yellowlegs And Its Distorted Reflection","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 6, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday I photographed two Greater Yellowlegs at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, there was snow on the ground and all around Farmington Bay the snow was falling heavily.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Greater Yellowlegs and distorted reflection at Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/greater-yellowlegs-winter-mia-mcpherson-1576.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/greater-yellowlegs-winter-mia-mcpherson-1576.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/greater-yellowlegs-winter-mia-mcpherson-1576.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/greater-yellowlegs-winter-mia-mcpherson-1576.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28533,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/09\/26\/greater-yellowlegs-at-farmington-bay\/","url_meta":{"origin":60988,"position":2},"title":"Greater Yellowlegs at Farmington Bay","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 26, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I've been able to photograph several shorebird species the past week and although Greater Yellowlegs are common at Farmington Bay WMA I still think they are quite lovely.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Greater Yellowlegs with prey at the tip of its bill, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/greater-yellowlegs-foraging-mia-mcpherson-3431.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/greater-yellowlegs-foraging-mia-mcpherson-3431.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/greater-yellowlegs-foraging-mia-mcpherson-3431.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/greater-yellowlegs-foraging-mia-mcpherson-3431.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":115472,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/08\/27\/lesser-yellowlegs-time-to-be-on-the-lookout-for-them\/","url_meta":{"origin":60988,"position":3},"title":"Lesser Yellowlegs – Time To Be On The Lookout For Them","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 27, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"It is not too soon to be on the lookout for Lesser Yellowlegs migrating through northern Utah, as shorebird migration can start as early as July.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lesser Yellowlegs on fall migration in Utah, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/lesser-yellowlegs-pond-mia-mcpherson-2599.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/lesser-yellowlegs-pond-mia-mcpherson-2599.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/lesser-yellowlegs-pond-mia-mcpherson-2599.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/lesser-yellowlegs-pond-mia-mcpherson-2599.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":106203,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/09\/14\/lesser-yellowlegs-photos-from-farmington-bay\/","url_meta":{"origin":60988,"position":4},"title":"Lesser Yellowlegs Photos From Farmington Bay","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 14, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Monday morning I was delighted to find and photograph a couple of Lesser Yellowlegs foraging and moving around a pond covered in duckweed at Farmington Bay WMA.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Alarmed Lesser Yellowlegs, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/lesser-yellowlegs-mia-mcpherson-2523.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/lesser-yellowlegs-mia-mcpherson-2523.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/lesser-yellowlegs-mia-mcpherson-2523.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/lesser-yellowlegs-mia-mcpherson-2523.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":106293,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/09\/17\/lesser-and-greater-yellowlegs-comparison\/","url_meta":{"origin":60988,"position":5},"title":"Lesser And Greater Yellowlegs Comparison","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 17, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"On Monday, I photographed both Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs foraging in a shallow duckweed-covered pond at Farmington Bay WMA early in the morning.","rel":"","context":"In "Bird ID"","block_context":{"text":"Bird ID","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/bird-identification\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lesser Yellowlegs standing still, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/lesser-yellowlegs-pond-mia-mcpherson-2666.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/lesser-yellowlegs-pond-mia-mcpherson-2666.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/lesser-yellowlegs-pond-mia-mcpherson-2666.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/lesser-yellowlegs-pond-mia-mcpherson-2666.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60988","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60988"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60988\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}