Among the snipe, pipits and many shorebirds at Montezuma yesterday was a godwit in adult winter plumage. We had excellent looks and took a raft of photos that we can share with anyone interested. We had an ID problem with this bird as the bill appeared absolutely straight much as one would see on a Black-tailed Godwit (limosa limosa).
The bi-color bill pattern was closer to Hudsonian (darker). While the bird was very actively moving and feeding, it took an age for it to show its underwing. At that point we went with Hudsonian due the narrow wingstipe on dark wing. The upper tail coverts were closer to the notch present on a Black-tailed and the bird seemed overall larger than expected but the two are only a bit different in size. Interesting drill but made for bleary eyes. Does anyone know if the two have interbred? Sorry Chris, not a single swallow at MNWR yesterday. John -- Dr.John and Sue Gregoire Field Ornithologists Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory 5373 Fitzgerald Road Burdett,NY 14818-9626 Website: http://www.empacc.net/~kestrelhaven/ "Conserve and Create Habitat" -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --