Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2022-32
| Common name: |
Hudsonian Godwit |
| Scientific name: | Limosa haemastica |
| Date: | 05/11/22 |
| Time: | 8:45 AM |
| Length of time observed: | 25 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | unknown |
| Sex: | Female |
| Location: | Willard Spur WMA |
| County: | Box Elder |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 60 yds |
| Optical equipment: | Swarovski 65mm scope with 20-60x eyepiece |
| Weather: | hot and clear |
| Light Conditions: | directe sunlight |
| Description: Size of bird: | Large shorebird, larger than nearby Willet |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Long bill and long leg on an oval shape body |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | mostly gray with some of purplish/maroon of alt plumage on the belly |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | long thin |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
A gray godwit, the size and bill length clearly indicating a female. I
estimated that ~15% of the feathers where the bright alternate feathers
and the color of these feathers made it clear the bird was a Hudsonian
Godwits. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None |
| Behavior: | Regularly probing in the water. |
| Habitat: | Shallow pool |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
While I did not see the underwing, the color of the incoming alternate feathers was clearly that of a Hudsonian Godwit, not a Bar-tailed. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Seen thousands of Hudsonian Godwits on the Texas coast in more than 20 springs of birding there including a few some groups there this part spring. Smaller numbers on the east coast in fall, perhaps another hundred or so though this birds often where viewed more carefully as they tended to be scarce in the areas I was observing them. I've seen several hundred Bar-tailed Godwits in Alaska, mostly in Spring and thousands in New Zealand where I visited one of the major wintering areas for the species. |
| References consulted: | None |
| Description from: |
Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Cameron Cox |
| Observer's address: | 706 Ivy Ave, Tillamook OR |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | none |
| Date prepared: | 07/02/22 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | Went pretty sparse on this as the photos make the identification straightforward |