| Common Name | Marbled Godwit |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Limosa fedoa |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 08/31/2018 |
| Media | |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Martha McClintock |
| Mailing Address | 10 Forest Lane Westford, Vermont 05494 United States Map It |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Date Completed | 09/02/2018 |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 45.008968 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | -73.147994 |
| Place Name | Missisquoi River Delta |
| Township | Highgate, Vermont |
| County | Franklin |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 10:30 AM |
| Length of Time Observed | 20 minutes |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 50 yards |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 20 yards |
| Noteworthy Weather Conditions | Very sunny, no wind |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | Nikon Monarch, 8 x 42 binoculars and Canon T6i camera with Sigma 400 mm zoom. |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | None. I saw a Hudsonian Godwit in Scarborough, Maine once so I knew it was a godwit but did not know which species. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | I saw the bird three times. The first was at 10:30 am, the first bird I saw as I kayaked from the Missisquoi River (left side of east branch) out into the lake. It was very shallow water and the only other bird there was a lesser yellowlegs. The second time was at about 2:00 pm. I had kayaked from east branch over to the mouth of the west branch. It was again, in shallow, somewhat weedy and mucky water and there were a group on dowitchers. The godwit flew in and I watched it for about 10 minutes before it flew off. The last time I saw it, the godwith was a bit further out, off a sandbar. |
| Behaviors Observed | Interesting feeding behavior. It would put it's bill into the water and then rotate it's whole body around the bill before lifting "his" head and trying again. It did the over and over. |
| Description of Vocalizations | I either didn't notice any or don't remember. |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | The first time I saw it was as I was kayaking out to lake from Missisquoi River. It was the first bird I saw..easily notice because of large size and large, bicolored upturned bill. It was feeding with a lesser yellowlegs. I watched it feeding for a minute. Unfortunately, as I was getting in to my dry box to find the camera, I drifted too close and it flew off towards the west. Later, I kayaked over to the west branch of Missisquoi. I had gotten out of my kayak to walk as water was too shallow and had wandered in the direction of a group of dowitchers. Suddenly, the godwit flew in within 20 yards of me (though I am not a good distance judger.) This time, it stayed a long time and I watched it for 10-20 minutes as it fed, rather undisturbed by my presence. Eventually, it flew off but I saw it a bit later further out. |
| Relative Size & Shape | See photos. Large, long legged and long billed shorebird. |
| Head | See photos. I did not notice anything noteworthy about head...just a uniform, tan color. |
| Feet & Bill | Legs long and black. Bill was long, upturned at end, and bicolored (pinkish at base, black at tip). |
| Upper Back | See photos |
| Lower Back & Rump | See photos |
| Wings | See photos |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | See photos. |
| Tail | See photos. |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | I knew this was a godwit from size, shape, and bill but did not know which kind. I consulted three bird books and then asked an expert (Ian Worley) for help in order to verify. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Written from Memory |
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