Documentation of
Short-billed Dowitcher
2011-217
Observer Information
Reporter:
Steven Mlodinow
Other Observers:
None;
Species, Date, Time and Location Information
Species:
Short-billed Dowitcher
First Date/Time:
8/6/2011
Last Date/Time:
Duration (total time in view):
total time observed was about 30 seconds
County:
Weld
Specific Location:
Weld County Road 59 ponds
Number:
1
Age:
Unknown
Sex:
Unknown
Plumage:
Other/Unknown
Habitat
Viewing Conditions
Optics:
Distance:
see description
Light:
See description
Description of the Bird
While standing on the road between the two parts of the Weld CR 59 ponds, I heard the classic call of a SB Dowitcher (see above). I looked up and saw a dowitcher flying over head, calling. I thought that would be the last of it, but about 5-10 minutes later, it flew past me a couple times, fairly close, calling repeatedly. Why it was so agitated, I am not sure... maybe the numerous screaming Killdeer had agitated it. During the closer passes, I could tell it was an adult, orange beneath from stem to stern except a whiter area between legs. The bird had the long bill, white uppertail coverts/rump/lower back of a dowitcher, and the bird seen was clearly the bird calling. At its closest, it was about 50 feet away. Lighting was fair. The bird called 10-15 times, typically giving a couple renditions of the described vocalization above
Behaviors: see description
Call: Too-doo, too-doo-doo, too-doo-doo
Plumage: adult alternate
Similar Species Discussion
LB Dowitcher was eliminated by call. Rump/back pattern combined with long bill and orange underparts removes other species from consideration
Resources Used
None
Previous Experience
Extensive with both dowitchers, hearing thousands when I lived in WA and when I visit Baja California (well, thousands of LBDO, dozens of SBDO in Baja). Sometimes LBDO will give a tooting type call, but never the quality of this bird's repeated utterances.
Notes
Notes made AFTER observation
Additional Information
Materials Available
No files uploaded.
Date Documentation Submitted
8/21/2011 7:47:00 PM