Vermont Rare Bird Reports 2023

John Pratt

unknown

This is my first sighting of a Marbled Godwit in Vermont. However, I have seen Marbled Godwits frequently in Texas (Rio Grande Valley) and Florida, also in Virginia, Massachusetts, California, New Mexico and Maine. I have seen Black-tailed Godwit once in Vermont, once in Massachusetts, and frequently in England. I have seen Bar-tailed Godwit once in Massachusetts and frequently in England.
And I have seen Hudsonian Godwit three times in Vermont as well as in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Delaware.

see eBird checklist

see eBird checklist

John and I had dedicated five days (September
16-20) for birding the northwest corner of Vermont. In particular, we were searching for interesting shorebirds and gulls. For the most part, we had had little success notwithstanding the relatively benign weather. Due to heavy rains in early summer, lake levels were unusually high and consequently there was very little in the way of exposed beach or
mudflat. Even St Albans Beach was entirely under water. In like manner, high water apparently had also not been of benefit to gull migration. So by September 19, we had little to show for our efforts: just four
species of shorebird (Wilson's Snipe, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, and Lesser Yellowlegs) and just one small flock of about 14 Bonaparte's Gulls.

We had planned this day to explore the western
shoreline and then North Hero State Park, then stopping at Hero's Welcome for lunch. I would eat my sandwich in the car while John scoped the gulls that often gather at the small headland across from the store. I had taken about three bites when John came back to the car with a serious look on his face. As he opened the car door, I said "Don't tell me a thing; just focus the scope on the bird." As he went to adjust the
scope, I retrieved the half of my sandwich which had flown across the car when John had thrown open the car door.

John had set the scope just right for my viewing the bird. At first I was confused, because all I saw was the
body of a large sleeping bird, soft pinkish color unlike that of a gull. Then I saw the long legs and realized immediately what I was seeing. I asked John what he thought he had seen. He said a godwit. I asked him
what kind. He said he didn't know. And then I said that it was a Marbled Godwit. The clue was the soft cinnamon brown color of the underparts.
There were no shades or areas of white. And there were no streaks or spots. I said to John "You keep your eye on him until he lifts his head; I'm going to finish my sandwich." And presently the bird woke up and looked around. And later he started to feed.

see eBird checklist

see eBird checklist

see eBird checklist

see eBird checklist

see eBird checklist

see eBird checklist

see eBird checklist

see eBird checklist

see eBird checklist