<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Posting for Paul Hicks. <br><br><div dir="ltr"><br><div>Sally</div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> Paul Hicks <paulhicks7373@gmail.com><br><b>Date:</b> September 2, 2023 at 12:59:24 PM PDT<br><b>To:</b> Sally Alhadeff <sallya@scattercreek.com><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Notes on Hudsonian Godwit in Tokeland</b><br><br></div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>Thanks, Sally!</div><div>====================</div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b>Notes on Hudsonian
Godwit in Tokeland<span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Tweets,<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Some observations of <b>Hudsonian
Godwit</b> on Friday, September 1 at the Tokeland Marina: Overall gray and noticeably
smaller than Marbleds (and Bar-taileds) with more contrasty pale supercilium. From
the rear the tail is obviously solid black with no barring on tail-side (different
from other godwits’ alternate dark bars on pale background). Fairly fine,
curved barring on lower flanks behind thighs. During a very brief wing-flip I
saw the white rump. Good view of upperparts: Has a “feathered” appearance
(sizable feathers laying down) in comparison with the “marbled” or spotted
appearance of Marbleds. Some of the larger feathers had a darker center; nearly
all were fringed with a dull rufous or warm brown -- probably highlighted some
by the close-to-setting sunlight (2 hours before sunset). Other birders (eg
Kameron Lantor) note that the black underwing is the most distinctive field
mark in flight. <b>Timing:</b> Mid-tide,
either rising or falling, is the best time for close-up viewing of the feeding godwits
(per Bill Shelmerdine). Friday the godwit flock left the breakwater (where they
rest during high tide) at 5:55pm to feed on the exposed shore in front of the
marina office. This was 3 hours after a relatively high high tide of 9 ft, when
the tide had receded to a mid-tide level of 4.5 feet. For some reason this
Hudsonian is apparently not always present with the other godwits, or at least
not reported. Last Tuesday less than a third of our group of 15 spotted it
among the hundreds of Marbleds.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Good birding!<br>
Paul Hicks<br>
Tenino/St George, Utah<br>
paulhicks7373 AT gmail DOT com<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span> </span></p>
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