Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2006-11(R82)
(Transcribed by M. G. Moody)
| Common name: |
Hudsonian Godwit |
| Scientific name: | Limosa haemastica |
| Date: | May 15, 1982 |
| Time: | 5:40 P.M. to 6:20 P.M. |
| Length of time observed: | (40 min.) |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | (breeding) |
| Sex: | male ? |
| Location: | N.W. shoreline of Pelican Lake, S.E. of Randlett, Utah |
| County: | Uintah |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | 100 yds. ---- 35 yds. (estimate) |
| Optical equipment: | 3 spotting scopes (Bushnell & Bausch / Lomb) at 30x |
| Weather: | |
| Light Conditions: | Partly cloudy at first (15 min.) Good sunlight from west last 20 - 25 min. Bird was to south of us with sunlight on right. |
| Description: Size of bird: | Willet-sized; smaller than Marbled Godwits with which it was feeding similar to Willets 4 of which were feeding in the group. |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Slender - not plump longer than Greater Yellowlegs |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: |
Top of head grayish or dark (unintel.). Side of head light gray with distinct white eye line |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | Long, but not as long as Marbled & slightly upturned; basal 2/3 was orangish & tip (1/3) was black. |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Breast & Abdomen: ruddy-breasted or rich reddish-brown (slightly darker
on abdomen) Back: dark brown - darker than the Marbled Gowits. Legs: bluish-black Wings: dark wing with broad white wing stripe & black wing lining. Tail: Black on 1-2" of tail with broad black & white (just like picture in Audubon Eastern Field Guide, but which is not indicated in any of the western field guides) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | Single call in flight as it was landing with other godwits. |
| Behavior: |
Mark Bromley & I observed the bird in flight over head / then it banked sharply
downward, folded its wings & plummeted downward with a sharp "tawit"; and landed
among a flock of 60 Marbled Godwits that were feeding in shallow water; a flock
that had a partial albino godwit that Dennis Shirley was observing when this
bird Mark & I were observing landed right by it. It began feeding with the other godwits by probing with its long bill in the shallow water. We observed the white wing stripe & the broad white tail band at this time when it was landing. |
| Habitat: | Shoreline of Pelican Lake. Mudflat habitat. No trees, scattered low-lying vegetation (weeds & brush) |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Marbled Godwits - These were larger & lighter-colored; longer more
definite upturned bill. Bar-tailed Godwits - lighter breast; uniformly colored head & cheek, finer & more numerous tail barring. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
None with this one, but I.D. is certain. All of us have seen the Marbled Godwit a number of times. |
| References consulted: | |
| Description from: | Notes made during the observation |
| Observer: | Merrill Webb |
| Observer's address: | 1063 East 40 North, Orem, Utah 84057 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Mark Bromley, Dennis Shirley |
| Date prepared: | (May 1982) |
| Additional material: | |
| Additional comments: |