canberrabirds

Short-billed dowitcher , Merimbula

To: "Philip Veerman" <>, <>
Subject: Short-billed dowitcher , Merimbula
From: "Wayne Gregson" <>
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 21:16:31 +1100
Phillip
 
Peter Roberts, who now lives at Merimbula, agrees with you – most likely Bar-tailed Godwits
 
Wayne
 
From:
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 6:33 PM
To:
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] Short-billed dowitcher , Merimbula
 
Hi Mary,
 
That is a curious ID. I don't know if Short-billed Dowitchers have ever been recorded in Australia. I am curious what bird books you checked. It is not a species in the usual Australian books, because it occurs in the Americas. I don't know what you saw, but my guess, based on the Asian Dowitcher that I have seen several of (but never more than 1 or 2) and local common species that are sort of similar, is possibly or likely they are Bar-tailed Godwits. That is just a suggestion.
 
If they are Short-billed Dowitchers, then many people will be very excited.
 
Philip
 
-----Original Message-----From: Alan Bond [ Sent: Tuesday, 19 November 2013 5:15 PM      To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Short-billed dowitcher , Merimbula

On Wed, 13 Nov we observed a large flock ( about 150 ) of what we think were short - billed dowichers flying in close formation - doing figure *s - up and down the 'lake ' at Merimbula in the late afternoon. We were able to get a good look at them as a group of 15/16 landed on a sand bar not far from us. We checked our bird books closely and deduced that they had to be short-billed dowitchers , from the markings , calls and behaviour. ( unfortunately we did not get a photo ).
I understand they are a  rare visitor to our shores and that they stay over the summer.
Any other sightings ?
 
Mary
 
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