Today, on my 5th try (8/13/22), I finally caught up with the Bar-tailed Godwit at Cupsogue C.P. This frustrating period of time was mainly due to my own shortcomings, ie, medical restraints, equipment limitations, newly applied transportation concerns, and let us not forget the recent scorching weather conditions. Without going into all of these contentions, I'll try to sum it all up by stating the following: Due to my Kowa spotting scope away being repaired, trying to ID *Limosa* *lapponica* by binoculars (8x42), from the highest spot on the beach boardwalk, until today, proved to be too much of a challenge ! Today, however, the bird was closer, the lighting, the sizes and shapes of the birds nearest the godwit, the stances that the godwit took, and especially the many views I had of the bill, all combined to allow me to record my 3rd sighting of this species.
The 1st time was in Australia, on Phillips Island, s/o Melbourne, on January 8, 2004.The bird was pointed out by Elizabeih Shaw, the bird guide I had the great fortune to hire. Before leaving Phillips Island, she also found a 2nd "lifer" for me - the Far Eastern Curlew *Numenius madagascariensis ! * While I can't remember the exact cost of her services that day, I still remember her saying that she would be most happy if I paid for her shopping at her neighborhood supermarket after we were done birding - I know it didn't amount to much ! Elizabeth was one of the many Australian citizens, whose friendships we grew to cherish ! My 2nd encounter with Bar-tailed Godwit was due to Ken & Sue Fuestel, who on May 28, 2004, found one at Mecox Bay, in Water Mill ! Some of the "blessed" got to see it that day, with many of us "brethren" getting to see it the next morning, the 29th....oh, happy day !! Unlike the Cupsogue bird, that one took off later that day for parts unknown ! Cheers, Bob -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
