Subject: [Tweeters] Dowitcher IDs
Date: Apr 2 08:46:05 2011
From: Kevin Purcell - kevinpurcell at pobox.com


On Apr 2, 2011, at 8:25 AM, cgluckman at aol.com wrote:

> Tweeterland - Thanks very much to those who helped ID the dowitcher I took in saltwater in Florida last week. Two said Long and two said Short. All were knowledgeable and gave good reasons for their choices. Though this might be very symmetrical, it didn't really help much. So, to move to a different plane, I've added a reasonably certain image of a flying Long-billed to my Flickr site next to the two unidentified dowitchers for comparison. Just for fun, could we try this again? Thanks to anyone with the willingness to try. If I don't get a con census, I'll move back to memorizing the much easier Scaup.
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/37079820 at N07/?saved=1

I'm not sure if anyone asked (because they're photos) but did you hear them call?

Vocalization is the easiest way to ID them in non-breeding plumage.

Also the lack of a Dennis Paulson comment would indicate either he's not reading TWEETERS or he can't tell them apart from these photos.
--
Kevin Purcell (Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA)
kevinpurcell at pobox.com
http://kevinpurcell.posterous.com
http://twitter.com/kevinpurcell