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Re: SB Dowitcher Germantown Soccerplex

From:

Andy Martin

Reply-To:

Andy Martin

Date:

Sat, 5 May 2012 13:14:57 -0400

Dave, Mary Ann,

Thanks for getting me a new county bird (state and lifer too!), even when I
find it myself and don't know enough to know it. I looked at it for quite a
while, even got Sibley out and sat on one of the benches and viewed it
through scope to try and find something other than longish looking bill to
turn into a LB Dowitcher. I did notice the white tipped scapulars but just
could not differentiate it from Sibley's representations of SBs in breeding
plumage. I was not able to pick out any rufous spots on scapulars as shown
Sibley's breeding plumage LB, that might have cinched it for me. The bird
almost seemed to have the back of Pacific SB sub sp with the belly of
Prairie SB sub sp. The orange belly did seem to be bordering on a rufous
tinge but again I have never seen a Long-billed Dowitcher in the flesh (or
feather) and most of my opportunities to study SB Dowitchers have been pre
or post breeding plumage. So its difficult for me to judge LB rufous vs. SB
orange. It never flushed while I was viewing so could not get a confirming
vocalization either. Thanks for getting the great pics.

Andy Martin
Gaithersburg

On Sat, May 5, 2012 at 4:42 AM, Mary Ann Todd <> wrote:

> > Mary Ann Todd and I were able to get a lot closer to Andy Martin's
>  Dowitcher and take some photos. Based on the scapulars and most wing
> coverts having narrow chestnut fringes on the sides and distinct white
> tips, as well as the deep chestnut belly, I think this is a Long-billed
> Dowitcher. We did not flush it to make it call. The pond is small and it is
> easy to flush the birds inadvertently.
> >
> > http://www.flickr.com/photos/39566052@N06/sets/72157629966567639/
> >
> > Dave Czaplak
> >
> >
> >
> > On May 4, 2012, at 8:44 AM, Andy Martin wrote:
> >
> >> Around 11 AM this morning, there was single Short-billed Dowitcher
> mixed in
> >> with a few Spotted, Solitary, Least Sandpipers as well as Lesser
> Yellowlegs
> >> and Killdeer at the small pond inside the Germantown Soccerplex. The
> pond
> >> is in really good shape for shorebirds, although a decent thunderstorm
> >> could fill it up fast and ruin things. Its amazing how long their bills
> can
> >> look sometimes when their not with another 100 of their own kind but I
> just
> >> could not find any other feature to turn it into a Long-billed. Just
> >> wishful thinking I guess in that only spring LB Dowitcher record in
> eBird
> >> from Piedmont area is as a bird found back in May '95 by Dave Czaplak
> and
> >> Maryann Todd at now extinct pond along Rt 108 near Olney.
> >>
> >> Andy Martin
> >> Gaithersburg
> >
>
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