[Birdnet] HUDSONIAN GODWIT @ Farmington Bay WMA

[Tim Avery]

A huge thanks goes out to Joel and Kathy Beyer whom I ran into at 
Farmington Bay this afternoon and alerted me that Joel had seen a 
Hudsonian Godwit.  He told me that the bird had flown off with a flock 
of about 20 Marbled Godwits (unfortunately before Kathy could get a look 
at the bird) and headed westerly towards Egg Island, where they were 
scoping numerous godwits in the pond about 350 yards west of the 
island.  I sat and scoped the area for sometime hoping that if the bird 
were there it would fly and show its tell-tale.... well tail... and more 
importantly its wing pattern.  I was there from about 3:20 till 4:10 
when the Beyer's decided to take off.  I opted to stay a little longer 
in hopes that something would fly.  A Peregrine had come by once sending 
a lot of birds in the air, and as luck would have it, the bird made a 
pass directly over the ponds where about 60 Godwits were resting/feeding.

Everything on the pond took to the air and after looking for about 15 
seconds I caught a glimpse of a very dark looking godwit with a flock of 
about 15 Marbled.  The birds flew directly east at egg island before 
banking to the north, about 150 yards out, giving me fantastic looks and 
a chance to snap off several shots as they passed, before banking back 
to the west and coming to land on the ponds to the west after the 
commotion was over.

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/april07/hugo_01.jpg

Not a great shot but what a great bird!  I headed out and caught up with 
the Beyers down the road and told them I had seen the bird.  They headed 
back to look a little longer when I left at about 4:30.

Good Birding!  And thanks for the heads up Joel!  Ironically I didn't 
even think to ask if it was a male or female bird, I just assumed it was 
a male.

Tim
tanager at timaverybirding.com