[obol] Birding Dowitchers

[DJLauten and KACastelein]

DAVID IRONS wrote:



> 
> Adults are a different story.  In Spring, most of the dowitchers one is 
> likely to see in Oregon are Long-billeds.  For whatever reason, 
> Short-billed Dowitchers seem to overfly Oregon on their northbound 
> journey.  This past Spring, I was fortunate to catch a day along the 
> outer coast when there were strong onshore winds out of the NNW.  A 
> variety of shorebird species were migrating low right along the beach 
> that day.  I saw more SBDO and Red Knots in one day than I had seen in 
> probably the last 20 Springs.  I can remember many years when I saw no 
> northbound Short-billeds.
> 

This spring movement of SB Dows is normal.  In other words, if you spent 
as much time on the outer coast in spring as we do, you would know that 
SB Dows are a fairly common coastal migrant with the flocks of peeps 
that move at the same time.  I do not think SB Dows overfly Oregon in 
spring, they just move along the coast predominately and move fast. 
Note that in spring shorebirds tend to move a lot faster and longer 
distances than in fall.  There tend to be major stopover points, and it 
so happens that most of these are very large bays: San Francisco, 
Humboldt Bay, Willapa/Gray's Harbor, Fraser River Delta, Copper River 
Delta.  Note there are no large bays in Oregon.  Therefore the birds are 
just not spending a whole lot of time here, and for a shorebird the 
flight from Humboldt to Gray's Harbor is a one day affair.  No need to 
spend time in Oregon.  Bottom line is if you are not on the outer coast 
between about 20 April to 7 May, and you do not hit the correct days - 
usually there are about 3-7 of them, you will miss most of the flight, 
and the numbers of birds will appear 'low' to you.  I will say however 
that some years are just better than others, and this spring was a good 
year.

Cheers
Dave Lauten