Hi,

I'm happy to report the Godwit was still in the same location today as
reported yesterday by Ian, Jim, and Craig. Thanks, guys!

I arrived at 11:00 a.m. and first chatted
with three hunters who were leaving the area because the water was too
shallow and they got stuck in muck! Then I had the opportunity to meet
Denis and
Maria Poley as well as the Hudsonian Godwit. Next to arrive were Hank
Kaestner and Bill Mercia.

The Godwit spent its time feeding in deep water, its belly just on the
surface. Hank mentioned it was feeding in a Dowitcher fashion!

It was great to meet up with all these eager birders and I was surprised
more people weren't there! Good luck to anyone else who goes for it!

Ali
Huntington


-----Original Message-----
From: Ian A. Worley
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 5:02 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VTBIRD] Hudsonian Godwit at Farrell Access

Yesterday afternoon Craig Provost and Ted Murin discovered a Hudsonian
Godwit at Farrell Access. Thanks to phone calls from Craig, the bird
was later also viewed by Ron Payne, Jim Mead and me.

Lounging, foraging and preening 1600 feet to the southwest in shallow
water at the mouth of a small cove, it and other shorebirds could be
viewed from the parking area, by walking the west shore southward, and
possibly from the field above the cove. A single Greater Yellowlegs
kept close company with the Godwit on occasion.

Other shorebirds included a flock of Lesser Yellowlegs, an American
Golden Plover, a Semipalmated Sandpiper, and a Least Sandpiper. The
Lesser Yellowlegs were depleted by one following a successful aerial
pursuit from a Peregrine Falcon over water right in front of us. The
speed of the Falcon was breathtaking. It disappeared carrying its new
meal into the canopy of tall-tree woods on the east shore.

The Peregrine attack dispersed the shorebirds, which we did not see
again before leaving shortly thereafter.

A list of species seen by Ron, Jim and me is found at:

http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist?subID=S11643664

Ian