[texbirds] notes re. Black-tailed Godwit at Brazoria NWR on Saturday (06/23/12)
- From: "Rex Stanford" <calidris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "TEXBIRDS" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:06:25 -0500
Please start sending your posts to texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Late Saturday (06/23/12), between about 5:30 and 7:10 PM we observed the
Black-tailed Godwit east of Hwy. 227, in the same pool on Brazoria NWR
property where it has been seen since it left its earlier location west of
that highway. Early in our visit we had suspicioned that a bird with some of
the right attributes visible might be this particular species, but we did
not photograph it at that time because it was asleep or resting with its
bill under its left wing. By about 6:15 PM it became more active and
occasionally looked about and preened itself, disclosing a suitable bill for
that species, as well as providing a better look at the markings on its
head, especially its bright supraloral mark. I started taking photos at 6:17
PM and continued with some regularity until about 7:07 PM. The bird was
about 2/3 of the way back across the pool. During the latter part of that
period I was able to get photos of it with its wings raised, exposing not
only the characteristic black/white marking at its rear (i.e., white lower
rump and uppertail coverts and broad black band on tail) and its white
axillaries and underwing coverts. Those, combined with appropriate
structural features, including a quite straight bill, clearly showed this to
be, not a Hudsonian , but a Black-tailed, Godwit.
We enjoyed watching it preen because often, if not every time, it would dip
the tip of its bill into the water and then appeared to be preening some
feathers. This reminded us of how persons sometimes wet the comb before
combing an unruly shock of hair. (We were at a considerable distance from
this bird, so we could not observe closely what it was doing with its
feathers. It is conceivable that the bill-dipping might, instead, have had
something to do with molt or even removal of bodily parasites.)
Another observation, noted on site, and amply confirmed by our dozens of
photos of this bird is that it seemed strongly disinclined to stand on its
right leg. This one-legged stance was true not only when it slept, which
often is the case with shorebirds, but when it was active in various ways,
such as preening--regardless of the side or location that was preened--and
even when it flapped both wings, sometimes extending both almost straight
up. None of my dozens of photos shows the right leg/foot to be used for
support or, even, extended. Indeed, they show it held against or very close
to the body with
the toes typically curled up. This gives us some cause for concern about the
possibility of this bird having suffered an injury to the right foot or leg
and/or infection in such an area. Of course, we hope we are wrong, and if
others have photos--or had unequivocal observations--taken on Saturday or
since
then indicating that this bird is using its right leg, we would be delighted
if that would be reported here. We know that some shorebirds will hop about
on a single leg even when, as disclosed later, that leg appears to be
normal, but we do not recall ever having seen this kind of continued disuse
of a leg for such an extended period of time, including while a bird is
doing other things than sleeping.
We would note, as have others, that this pond is very shallow and apparently
has been rapidly drying up, so those wishing to see this bird may need to
act soon, at least if they are to find it in this location.
Yesterday morning we birded the tour roads of Brazoria NWR. The abundance of
wader species and wader numbers at Olney Pond was northing short of
spectacular. Shorebirds were starting to impress, too, and we found 13
Marbled Godwits present at that pond, along with multiple other shorebird
species. Along highway 227, perhaps a half-mile south of the Black-tailed
Godwit site, we had a low-level overflight of a very attractive Swainson's
Hawk. We briefly visited the site of the rare godwit around noon yesterday
but did not spot it. It might simply have been present but missed. We join
the many expressing thanks to Ron Weeks for having found and recognized this
exciting visitor.
Some shorebirds already are heading south, and the next two or three weeks
often seem associated with a relatively high probability of shorebird
rarities. Rarities are not, the shorebirds are coming back, and we all can
enjoy their migration for some time to come.
Best wishes to all for rewarding late summer and early fall birding,
Rex and Birgit Stanford
McAllen, TX
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