I haven't posted here in a while since I was busy with end of the school-year stuff. But my summer break is finally here! I celebrated on Friday by waking up at 5 a.m. to go birding. Non-birders would scratch their heads at this. My target bird was a Hudsonian Godwit that was found with a Marbled Godwit at Lake Cochise on Tuesday. The last confirmed sighting of Hudsonian Godwit in Arizona was 16 years ago, so I was praying it was still there. As I arrived, I saw one other car on the perimeter of the tiny lake. I pulled up to the gentleman and asked if he had seen the godwits. "They're right there," he pointed with a chuckle. Ha, I love drive-up lifers! Sure enough they were feeding together furiously. Marbled Godwits are a rare spring transient in Southeast Arizona. And this is the 6th record of Hudsonian Godwit in Arizona. Luckily I've seen lots of Marbled Godwits in San Diego, so I was able to tell them apart. Lots of Arizona birders who are unfamiliar with both species were having a hard time distinguishing the two.
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| Hudsonian Godwit (right) & Marbled Godwit (left) |
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| Hudsonian Godwit in the wind |
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| Hudsonian Godwit showing distinctive black tail, white uppertail coverts, and white wing stripe |
Congrats on the Hudsonian Godwit. That'd be a lifer for me too. Enjoy summer break!
ReplyDeleteWhew way to go wit God Jeremy!
ReplyDeleteAwesome birds, what a spectacular find!
What a great find Jeremy!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the life bird, Jeremy ... and so easy to find! I would love to see one of these beauties!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the wonderful find Jeremy.
ReplyDeleteAs a retired teacher I understand your excitement at being through with school for a few weeks. Make the most of them with the birds!