Hey Tweets,
I also made it down to Tokeland this weekend, and made
an interesting observation.

I DID find the Bar-tailed Godwit, but I also saw a
partially Leucistic Marbled Godwit that could EASILY
be confused with a Bar-tailed.

This Individual was VERY gray on all the covert
feathers, but was obviously the same size (and
actually looked larger) than the Marbled Godwits. It
stands out very well amongst the Marbled as a lighter
colored bird, with no buffy color showing at all.
However, while it was preening, I saw that its primary
flight feathers were obviously cinnamon colored, and
it lacked the tail barring visible on the Bar-tailed.
The cinnamon primaries are NOT visible while it is
standing and feeding. Its bill is heavier than the
Bar-tailed (exactly like the Marbled), and the
supercilium does NOT extend past the eye.
I saw this individual AND the Bar-tailed, and it
seemed obvious that it was NOT a second Bar-tailed,
but a light-colored Marbled Godwit.

I could not get any photos (I really need to learn how
to digiscope!), so I am hoping someone can get down
there, and get some diagnostic pictures!

Intersting Bird!

Good Birding!
Guy

Guy McWethy
Renton, WA
mailto: lguy_mcw at yahoo.com



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