Subject: [Tweeters] RE: Possible Bar-tailed Godwit at Tokeland
Date: Aug 16 17:05:26 2009
From: Khanh Tran - fsprucegrouse at yahoo.com


Hi Brad,

Thanks for your email!

I think most birders from Tweeters associate me with being familar with just grouse but I do have experience with shorebirds and particularly this species in both breeding and non-breeding.

I have seen them in Oregon in 2001, WA 2005, and one breeding plumaged bird in the Yukon on the Dempster Highway last May. I have only see Hudsonian Godwits in breeding plumage up North. Lots of experience with Marbled Godwits in OR and WA. In addition, Steve Nord is also another seasoned, skilled birder who travels extensively to bird. He has been birding for at least 30 years or more.

1) I did state in my email that it is a HIGHLY PROBABLE chance that the bird is a BAR-TAILED GODWIT. It was a godwit in structure when we saw it fly and almost 10-15% smaller in size and extremely pale.

Unfortunately, we only got brief glimpses as it swirled and flew away. We did not notice the overall tawny brown in plumage or the cinnamon underwings consistent for Marbled. There were several loose flocks of other godwits but it was mixed in with a flock of about 100 marbled godwits.

I am well aware of the separating field marks between all three godwit species. Most of the roosting birds did not allow us excellent looks and some had their backs facing us, while others partially hidden. There was one massive Long billed Curlew and a couple of Whimbrels mixed in.

3) I hope this bird sticks around for a while. Based on the ones found by the Sullivans in the past at this location, there is a good chance. Some keen and patient birder will hopefully confirm it.

Steve and I were there at low tide. There were several flocks coming from different locations and directions about one hour before high tide. Hopefully at high tide, the godwits will congregate more closely to the shore and parking area for extensive and better views.

4) I know some birders tend to count every toes, primaries, and other features of a bird. I am a bit different and tend to go by overall structure, behavior, and the basic jest. Of course, I hope to confirmed it with diagnostic field marks if the opportunity arises.

For example, I can id grasshopper sparrows and tree sparrows by their flight and silhouette seeing it for only a few seconds while driving. Tom Mansfield and Bill Bradford can confirm and attest to this.

When you bird for 25 years, sometimes you can get a 'feel' for a bird without seeing any other field marks. I felt this bird was not 'right' for a marbled godwit. I know this is not scientific or acceptable for some birders. But why be cautious all the time? I make mistakes even birding for so long but learn from it. If I am proven wrong, that is fine.. No harm done. Live and Learn-- that's my Buddahist mentality.

I am simply giving birders a 'heads up' for others to look for this bird. Be cool if it is indeed, a Bar-tailed (or heck, maybe a Hudsonian).

Of course, it would have extensive looks or obtain a photo but that is the way birding goes sometimes. That is why I love the challenge.

Hope some able birder will find the bird and get photos!!

Happy Godwit Hunting,

Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)

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Hello Khanh and Fellow Tweets,

The report of the probable Bar-tailed Godwit at Tokeland is quite
intriguing, but I'm not sure that I would give a great deal of weight
to the smaller size and the general paleness of this bird for it's
identity. I recall seeing a Marbled Godwit very similar to the one you
described on Wednesday evening on a visit to Tokeland with Tom Aversa.

Two questions that come to my mind about this bird would be the following:
1) Did you note the color and pattern of the underwings when it was seen
in flight? If the overall size and structure were quite evident in
flight, then I'm quite certain you would have noted white-based
underwings for a Bar-tailed Godwit vs. cinnamon underwings seen in
Marbled Godwits.
2) Did you note anything different about the supercillium from nearby
birds when it was roosting? I think the supercillium would be noticeably
bolder and it would run behind the eye.

Anyway, that's my two cents worth. I know there would be other features
but knowing the possible age of the bird might also be helpful.

It is always a treat to go study the big shorebirds at Tokeland. I'm
still left wondering about the age and interesting plumage of a
Long-billed Curlew that I saw with other a few weeks back.

Cheers and good birding,

Brad Waggoner
Bainbridge Island
mailto:wagtail AT sounddsl.com