English and Scientific names:	Ruff  (Philomachus pugnax)
Number of individuals:	1,male, winter plumage
Locality: LOUISIANA:	Jefferson Davis
Specific Locality:	Flooded field 1 mile west of Hwy 3056 on the north side of Hwy 14.
Date(s) when observed:	2-25-2010  (stakeout from past week)
Time(s) of day when observed:	5:45 PM to 6:15 PM
Reporting observer and address:	Melvin Weber Reserve, La.
Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):
Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)	Other reports turned in.
Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):	Excellent evening light to my back, clear sky.
Optical equipment:	8x42 Binoculars and 30 power scope.
Distance to bird(s):	200 to 250 feet
Duration of observation:	About 30 minutes
Habitat:	flooded field in rice country, flooded to levees so it looks like a pond.  Roughly 2 to 3 inches deep.
Behavior of bird:	This bird was feeding, somewhat similar to Dowitcher but not sewing machine movements.  More shallow and erratic. Much more nervous looking then Yellowlegs.  It was also feeding in a field with Dowitchers however it remained at about a 10 foot distance form the Dowitcher flocks.
Description:	Large shorebird, similar in size to Greater Yellowlegs whom it was near at first.  Yellow legs similar to Yellowlegs.  Body seemed more plump then the Greater and back color was a little darker.  Head was probably the same size as the Greater however seemed smaller with larger body.  Bill noticeably shorter than Greater.  It seemed more like the length of a Lesser Yellowlegs however it was a lot heavier.  Bill appeared dark but probably not real black.  I didn't get to see the rump which I wanted since I never got to see it fly.  When it did fly I lost it.
Voice:
Similar species:	This bird was a lot closer in looks to a Greater Yellowlegs than I thought it would look like.  It would be easy to overlook the larger body proportions if not paying attention.  The bill is the clincher.  It is way too heavy for a Lesser and noticeably too short for a Greater.
Photographs or tape recordings obtained?	My photos only show a large shorebird with its bill always under water.  At the distance taken there isn't much plumage information.
Previous experience with this species:	This is a lifer.
Identification aids:	I had National Geographic and Sibley.
This description is written from:	Memory ---5 hours ago.
Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain:	On my own, I may still have doubts, but because it is a stakeout from birders familiar with this species I feel OK.
Date and time:	2-25-2010  10PM