October 28 Email:
Hi, Ric, this picture of a Dowitcher was taken at the Wastewater's most easterly aeriation pond Saturday (10/27) at 1:00 p.m. I think it is a Short-billed even though the bill is quite long. Does someone have an opinion that can help me? Thanks, Hank Veldman
Long-billed. When probing for food the tip of the bill never came above the surface of the water. I've seen this before in Long-billed Dowitchers, but not in Short-billed.
ReplyDeleteKen Sapkowski
http://www.surfbirds.com/ID%20Articles/dowitchers1005/dowitchers.html
ReplyDeleteAfter posting earlier I read the above page about the differences.
It's very in depth. I hope Caleb or Jonathan give us a post about this particular bird. I'm still going to say Long-billed. I think the black bands on the tail feather are much wider than the white bands. Ken
My friend Marlene & I saw this same bird this same day -- we called in Long-billed. We did notice the same thing, when sewing-machine-like probing for food, the bill didn't even clear the water. Please let me know if anyone else is leaning towards Short-billed, because then I should change my ID in ebird..
ReplyDeleteOn Nov. 10th, myself, Jim Ponshair, Chris Lipps, and Jerry Lang saw a dowitcher at the same location. When it flushed and gave a "tu-tu-tu" flight call, the ID was clinched- a Short-billed Dowitcher. It may not have been the same bird seen Oct. 28th, but the typical assumption is that Long-billed Dowitchers are much later migrants in fall.
ReplyDeleteDave Dister