Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) on Pass-a-Grille Beach.
Most of the shorebirds I see on the Gulf coast are Sanderlings, Willets, Ruddy Turnstones, and Short-billed Dowitchers. This morning I was startled to see several beautifully cinnamon-colored Marbled Godwits mixing it up with the Willets and Sanderlings on the beach.
I confess that I did not know what they were, but I knew that I couldn’t recall noticing them before. I’ve really been a slacker for quite a few years when it comes to “birding.” When I was young I was quite an avid birdwatcher.
I went home and consulted my Golden Field Guide, Birds of North America (1966 / Robbins, Bruun, Zim, & Singer). It’s dog-eared and some of the pages are falling out ( I purchased it in about 1973 for $3.95) but it has served me well for 35 years and I’ve more than gotten my money’s worth from it.
Marbled Godwits they are. Here’s what the guide says about them:
“Rather common in West, rare in East. Breeds on praries, meadows, and pastures, and winters along the coasts. The brown plumage is mottled above and barred below. The very long bill turns up. Note the cinnamon wing linings.”
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has more info about the Marbled Godwit.
The upward curved bill was the major feature I noticed, along with the beautiful color of this rather large sandpiper. Note in the photo below that it is slightly larger than the Willets beside it (gray birds).
