Locality: South Jetty of the Columbia River
Dates: October 19,2003
Time of Day: about 10:00
Reporting observers address: Mike Patterson
1338 Kensington Av.
Astoria, OR 97103
Light conditions: overcast; good visibility
Optical equipment: 25x60 Bushnell spotting scope
Distance from bird: 150 to 300 meters
Duration of observation: about 1 minute
Habitat: flyover
Behavior: I picked up a pair of largish shorebirds over the river and coming toward the jetty. They were far out, but I could see dark underwings and figured them to be Black-bellied Plovers. As they got closer, it became clear they were not plovers. By the time they were over the ocean an no more than 150m out, I could see clearly upturned bills, black and white in the wings, upper and lower.
Description: overall - brownish godwit with high contrast black and white in wings and dark tail.
Head- brown, no detail discernible from distance, long, upturned bill
Body- brownish, paler on belly
Wings- underwing coverts and axillaries very dark, bright white stripe
upperwing, bright white stripe, very dark primaries and primary coverts
Tail- very dark, contrasting with pale rump
Similar Species: long, upturned bill eliminates most other shorebirds. Bright, black and white wings (both upper and lower) eliminate other godwits since Black-tailed Godwit should have all white underwings. Willet has a straight bill and a pale tail and rump.
Previous experience: I am familiar with all regularly occurring godwit species.
