ML55871291

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

I did consider marbled godwit when I saw these two birds but I am 95-98% sure that they are willet. I was able to study them for about 15 minutes and then 10 minutes later in the day but I didn't come away with that great identification shot, nor was I able to catch them in flight to get the diagnostic wing coloration that would have sealed the ID. I do not think that the bills were a good match for godwit due to the relative bluntness of the tips rather than the sharp endings found on godwit. I was able to study the bills clearly and there was only bluish bases with a darkish tip, not the more orange base like in godwit. Also, maybe not evident in the photos, there was a clear white eye-ring and lores contrasting with the very dark eye. As far as the coloration, the upper parts were more of a grey instead of buffy/checkered with buffy streaked underparts like in godwit. I have seen willet a fair number of times and at no time while viewing these birds did I get the impression that they fit marbled godwit, rather, the overall gestalt was that of willet. I do believe that these birds were willet, and if this offers any more support, I did see marbled godwit with John Powell and Jordan Ragsdale almost on the same logs a year earlier. I think there are photos of the godwit with black-necked stilts from our ebird checklists.

Technical information

Model

XT1526

ISO

80

Focal length

2.5 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/2.2

Shutter speed

123/50000 sec

Dimensions

748 pixels x 421 pixels

Original file size

288.66 KB