Has something slipped by today? Did I miss a message or three? I've
just been told that the Long-billed Dowitcher, if accepted (and that
seems pretty likely) will be the FIRST accepted for the species in
Australia. It is on Christidis and Boles' Supplementary List. The only
sighting that I have heard about was by Bob Swindley, but the record was
not submitted. Is this correct? I have this by word of mouth only.
The bird was not recognised before the nets were fired - one person's
account is that they were not really looked at much - just a bunch of
tattlers and godwits. The dowitcher provoked a little discussion,
apparently! The ID was made by checking the width of the barring on the
tail. The normal range is Siberia -> Pacific coasts of North & South
America. I'm not sure where exactly at Corner Inlet the bird was
trapped, but there are plenty of inaccessible roosts and feeding spots
around there. The other odd thing is that in June the bird was showing
no signs of breeding plumage. It is possible that it is the same
individual seen by Swindley at this spot a year ago.
Tell us more, Tony. (And correct anything I've said that's wrong!)
Cheers
Russell
|
