birding-aus

RE: [BQ_Forum] Mystery Wader

To: <>
Subject: RE: [BQ_Forum] Mystery Wader
From: "Tim Murphy" <>
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 07:40:34 +1000
I have placed a second bird on the BQ web site. Maybe an easy one for the
less expert.

These are of two different birds of course, I think the first one is very
difficult (must be as the experts are disagreeing), the second is easy (I
think). Both were taken at same time and place.

We are never going to know for certain on the first bird, at best we are
going to have a range of possibilities.

I will say my reasons for disbelieving each options for first bird now.
There may be other reasons for disbelief, what are they?

Bar-tailed Godwit. Should show at least some pink at base of bill (mud?). No
spots around tail - these should show. Bill should be more upcurved. Back
and neck should be browner and show more motel ling. Eye strip extends too
far behind eye. Legs should be blacker (mud?)

Black-tailed Godwit.  Should show at least some pink at base of bill (mud?).
Eye strip extends too far behind eye. Legs should be blacker (mud?)

Asian Dowitcher. Rare. Bill tapers too much.  Body not squat enough? Stands
wrong for a feeding Dowitcher and wasn't feeding like sewing machine
according to photographer.  Legs should be blacker (mud?)

I have looked at over 10 birds books - they all disagree subtly on the
important points.

I don't have HANZAB - does this help?

Tim Murphy


===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com

To unsubscribe from this mailing list, 
send the message:
unsubscribe 
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: 
===============================

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the birding-aus mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the archive e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU