Hello Tweets,

This afternoon between 3:45pm-4:15pm we observed the BAR-TAILED GODWIT from the north end of Float 21 at the Westport Marina in Grays Harbor Co. This is most likely the same individual bird than previously reported by Matt Dufort on the 30th of September. The bird was observed amongst a flock of 140+ Marbled Godwits during incoming tide,where they all rested on partially exposed area as you look straight north from the end of Float 21. The Bar-tailed Godwit is injured since we observed the bird hopping or limping around,as well as fluttering it's wings as it tried to get balance on rocks amongst the Marbled Godwits. The Bar-tailed Godwit also shows a distinctive orange area in between the base of the bill and the eyes on both sides of the face,so that could be blood. Anyhow,the bird is very distinctive overall and easy to separate from the larger,buffier Marbled Godwits,as well as being shorter legged. The plumage of the Bar-tailed Godwit consisted of a rather plain brown mantle pattern,white underparts and noticeable white supercillium. The white on the underparts also extended up onto the upper breast with no hint of any warm tones on the upper breast,so for these reasons we lean more towards the bird being an adult bird. Basically,the bird was brown above and white below and lacked a strong,crisp mantle pattern like any juvenile Bar-tailed Godwits we have been observed in past years. When the bird lifted it's wing it revealed the barred white rump,as well as whitish underwings and the "classic" barred tail. Hopefully the bird will remain for other birders to see,but seeing it may be dependant on the correct tides. More sightings from today in our following report!

Good birding,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit513 at msn.com