IBRC 55-B-09

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Short-billed Dowitcher
HOW MANY: one juvenile

REPORTER: Keith E. Carlson 2018 14th St Lewiston, ID 83501 208-746-7322
REPORTER EMAIL: kecd201814@cableone.net
OTHER OBSERVERS: none

DATE REPORT PREPARED: 1 October 2009    DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 30 September 2009
LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: Mann Lake, Nez Perce county
HABITAT: small lake w/ exposed mud flat surrounded by wheat fields
CONDITIONS: seen for 1/2 hour 52 degrees, calm winds, distance 30-50 feet sun in East to my three o'clock 10x40 Zeiss Canon 50D DSLR w/ 400mm Canon L telephoto lens

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: Yes, later the same day
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, later the same day
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:
The Sibley Guide to Birds Sibley
Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest-Paulson

DESCRIPTION:
shorebird (Limnodromus)
medium size, long billed, long legged shorebird.
Rufous breast
tertials scalloped with rufous edges
BEHAVIOR:
"sewing machine' feeding motion.
With a Long-billed Dowitcher, Killdeer and Black-bellied Plover-body size similar to
BB Plover
Did not hear flight calls when all four birds flew

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? Bird was compared to Long-billed Dowitcher next to it. Rufous breast and scalloped rufous edged tertials compared to relatively plain gray breast and gray plain tertial of LB Dowitcher
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? see above for LB Dowitcher. Size, shape and leg and bill length eliminated both Yellowlegs, Godwits, Curlews and Solitary Sandpiper. Wilson's Snipe more heavily striped

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): Have seen many LB Dowitchers in both Spring and Fall at Mann Lake. Have seen both Dowitchers at Ocean Shores, WA
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: off and on for 50+ years advanced amateur

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: Photo

These photos were submitted by the observer and were not edited in any way.

photo of SB and LB dowitchers together

SB Dowitcher

 LD Dowitcher alone