Peter Roberts, who now lives at Merimbula, agrees with you – most likely
Bar-tailed Godwits
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
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
