A dowitcher seen yesterday on the Toronto Ornithological Club's field day
at Sobey's Pond in Whitby caused much interest as to its identity, age and
plumage. We saw it today and Jean took several photos.
Here are today's photos http://www3.sympatico.ca/jeaniron/adlongbill.htm
Compare it with these juveniles and molting juveniles
http://www3.sympatico.ca/jeaniron/longbill.htm
It's a Long-billed Dowitcher in adult winter (definitive basic) plumage. It
has just finished its prebasic (postbreeding) molt. Note the grey
basic/winter feathers on the upperparts, which have distinct dark shaft
streaks. The same juvenile feathers are darker with crisp narrow reddish or
pale fringes.
Directions: Exit 401 at Brock Street in Whitby (not Brock Road in
Pickering). Go south to Bayly, turn right and go to second traffic light,
turn right, then next left. Go about 300 metres. Ponds are on your left
before next intersection. Also there today were three juvenile
Black-bellied Plovers and one juvenile American Golden-Plover.
Happy birding,
Ron Pittaway and Jean Iron
Jean Iron
http://www3.sympatico.ca/jeaniron/
9 Lichen Place
Toronto ON M3A 1X3
416-445-9297
