FW: [canberrabirds] Short-billed dowitcher , Merimbula

["Geoffrey Dabb" <>]

 

From: Barbara Jones [
Sent: Wednesday, 20 November 2013 8:59 AM
To: Wayne Gregson; Philip Veerman;
Cc: peter roberts
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Short-billed dowitcher , Merimbula

 

The numbers seen by Mary coincide with the current numbers (~160) of Bar-tailed Godwits in Merimbula Lake at present. Whether they all stay the whole summer this season remains to be seen as we often find they disperse to other suitable estuaries north and south within this area then possibly reassemble at the end of the season before departure.

Barbara Jones

 

From:

Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 9:16 PM

To: m("pcug.org.au","pveerman");" title="">Philip Veerman ; m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" title="">

Cc: m("hotmail.com","robertspj");" title="">peter roberts

Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Short-billed dowitcher , Merimbula

 

Phillip

 

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

 

Wayne

 

From: m("pcug.org.au","pveerman");" title="">Philip Veerman

Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 6:33 PM

To: m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" title="">

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 [m("y7mail.com","birdys");">] Sent: Tuesday, 19 November 2013 5:15 PM      To: m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");">
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