Another update from va-bird, Ellison Orcutt:
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Hello Birders,
Finally getting around to posting some details on this bird after having
just finishing off an awesome day of birding by hearing David Sibley's talk
at the Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival. Thank you to Arun Bose
for posting the original post on my behalf. Tim Johnston and I birded
Chincoteague NWR from 10:50am until 4:40pm.
The subject bird was fist observed at 11:10am in the Swan's Cove pool. If
you are driving out towards the Tom's Cove Visitor Center it was on the
left maybe a quarter of a mile before the center. Upon exiting the car to
check a mixed flock of Skimmers and Terns I noticed two large shorebirds
feeding just behind them. I quickly ID'ed one as a Marbled Godwit and then
immediately realized the second bird wouldn't be so quick. It was very
similar in size to the Marbled if any different maybe just a little more
slender. This bird had a very long and straight bicolored bill. As the
photos will show..the bill was about 2/3 light pinkish color and a dark
outer third. As I grappled with the apparent reality that this was not a
Hudsonian (this bird was much taller and larger overall, with a more
straight bill than a Hudsonian) two birders pulled up. I thought a second
and third opinion would be great. The best part was yet to come, it turns
out the birders were visiting from Northern England and were very familiar
with Black-tailed Godwits. Within a few moments the Black-tailed took
flight briefly and showed it's white rump and black tail and most
importantly its white underwings. Along with their backing, it was a very
easy call. The bird resettled and was present the entire time in the exact
same spot until we left at 4:40pm.
For much of our time observing the bird it was feeding very closely with
the Marbled Godwit which offered great size comparisons. I noted that the
Black-tailed often times tipped it's rear to an almost vertical position
when probing. This basic plumage bird was a pale grayish brown overall
with a very light belly and undertail. It's neck and breast showed a more
washed gray appearance. An obvious white eyebrow and tall dark legs.
Many times during our observation we had flyovers by Peregrines and Eagles
that flushed all of the birds in the pool except for the Godwits which held
tight with eyes to the sky.
A few hours after our initial sighting some more birders arrived to back up
the sighting with some excellent photos. And later a few more birders
joined us to enjoy looks from about 50 yards. The bird was present and
feeding when we left at 4:40pm. Other birders were still there and may be
able to update on its status as the day moved to night.
Here is a link to my cell scoped photos which don't do much... but they do
enough. Like I said, others have much better photos, especially of the
solid white underwings. 3 photos in the stream.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellison_orcutt/8058096244/
Good birding,
Ellison
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