Tweets,

Our Seattle Audubon field trip spent more than an hour at Tokeland surveying the godwit et al. flock that was roosting on the breakwater as the tide began to recede. We estimated over 200 Marbled Godwits, over 100 Whimbrels, 10 Willets, and a number of Short-billed Dowitchers present (a separate group of 35 Long-billed Curlews was at the slough opposite Graveyard Spit a bit later). At ca. 3 PM the birds began to leave the breakwater, a few at a time. Most proceeded to feed in the northwest corner of the marina where we were able to view them in excellent back light at less than 100 feet (counting 170 alone here) in a phalanx of scopes. We could not pick out a Bar-tailed but were struck by the variation among the Marbleds. There appeared to me to be two distinct plumages, represented about equally. The first seemed on average smaller, with a slightly shorter bill, that was distincting orangish-pink on the basal 60+ percent. These also seemed distinctly, though finely barred below and showed dark primary tips on the folded wing. The other type seemed on average larger, longer-billed and with bright, bubble-gum pink on the basal 60+% of the bill, and were clear pinkish-cinnamon buff below, with paler primaries. Reviewing Paulson's shorebird book it seems the first might be male adults in faded alternated plumage, the second female adults in fresh basic plumage. However, that might be rather early for the post-breeding molt and I don't know if there is any reason to expect the males to molt first. Nevertheless, the contrast was striking.

Gene Hunn.