ML228103151

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

I spotted this bird foraging at the water's edge along the shallow side of the sandy beach and bar. I called Pat Moynahan, who was able to run over and see it too. A large and especially heavy and long-billed individual. Rich cinnamon buff underparts and upper parts, that latter barred with black. The head and neck were paler and grayer buff. The tibial feathering seemed paler and whiter, as was the vent. In flight I could see the primaries were largely pale cinnamon rufous; the under wing coverts appeared to be orangey buff. The primary coverts were heavily barred and appeared as a blacker patch on the spread wing. The tail was finely barred black and orange buff. The legs were gray. The bill was pinkish from the distal 1/3 to the base; tip blackish to slate. Based on its size, I judged the bird to be a female. I'm not sure of age, but it seemed so fresh and crisp in feathering, I assume it was a bird of the year. Photos. This bird foraged almost non-stop, working along the sandy beach but staying in the water that was 1-2" deep (occasionally deeper or shallower) just into the water from the edge as the tide rose. It probed deeply with its long bill. After about an hour, and as many of the shorebirds were starting to gather in tighter clumps along the causeway, I saw the godwit take off and fly toward Wood Island and then turn south, disappearing over the Biddeford Pool direction. Its flight was powerful and direct on relatively shallow wingbeats. The long neck and bill projecting noticeably ahead of the bird and giving it a distinctive profile.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D

Lens

EF400mm f/5.6L USM

ISO

320

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

2400 pixels x 1350 pixels

Original file size

2 MB