[Maine-birds] Long-billed Dowitcher back again at Wharton Point.

For those interested, the Long-billed Dowitcher was found again this morning at Wharton Point at the head of Maquoit Bay in Brunswick.  It was last observed on November 11 after having winged its way high out into the bay and was assumed to have departed for good.  This morning, the bird was foraging near the water's edge on the incoming tide with the remaining Black-bellied plovers and dunlins.

The best time to observe the dowitcher (or any shorebirds at Wharton Point) is on the incoming tide approximately 4 hours to 3 hours before high tide (using Portland harbor tide predictions).  The birds are forced by the incoming tide closer to the shoreline for observation.  Often times, the shorebirds are located on the mudflat some distance to the west of the boat ramp.  However, as the tide continues to cover the mudflat, the birds fly east over to the other side where a stream from the marsh enters the bay.  As the tide covers the mudflat, they will disappear into the marsh where they'll often roost.  The shorebirds aren't as reliable for close observation on the outgoing tide, but it can be productive, at times.  Depending on the tide heights, the mudflats begin to appear approximately 2 to 3 hours after high tide.  So, today between 2 and 3 PM, the shorebirds should start foraging along the eastern side, and then may fly over to the west side of the flats, or further out into the bay.

Of course, the orderly shorebird behavior described above can be put totally out of whack when a Merlin or Peregrine appears.  Then, the shorebirds can end up anywhere, but the action is often exciting to watch!

Gordon

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