All:

I'm currently in Cleveland, TN, having left my home of 12 years in Naples, Florida on the Gulf of Mexico for good. I'm on my way to my "new" home of Port Townsend, WA. Of course, I'm birding all the way whenever and wherever I can. Like this morning at Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park in Tallahassee. I saw the "usual" expected birds like Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Pine & Yellow-throated Warblers, White-eyed and Red-eyed Vireos, most of the woodpeckers, etc. A Kentucky Warbler was a nice find. However, I digress . . . . I see consistent reports on Tweeters for dowitchers of both species at the exact same location, like Ocean Shores for instance. How are folks up there separating these species? By call? Down here in Florida, they are not as readily separated, only by call. The general rule of SBDUs being found in saltwater or brackish water is pretty reliable verses LBDUs being found primarily inland in fresh water in Florida. However, especially around this time in fall migration, that rule doesn't always apply. I'm just curious as to how Tweeterts are separating the two species. Thanks in advance and I just can't wait until I get to the Pacific Northwest!

Vincent Lucas
vplucas at comcast.net
Soon-to-be in Port Townsend