When feeding the Dowitcher uses their long bill in the motion of a sewing machine needle, up and down. They usually stay for longer periods of time in one spot, as opposed to other shorebirds that wade and probe.
I believe this bird is the Long-billed, which has a bulkier body with a more rounded back and a longer bill.
Can be difficult to tell between the Long and Short billed Dowitcher.
Not many Black-necked Stilts on the marsh when we were there. We were lucky to see a few of these cute birds. They don’t stand still, continually using their long bill to forage for food in the muddy waters.
I saw my first Black-necked Stilt on April 7, 1995 in Kauai, Hawaii. Howard and I were there celebrating our 20th anniversary.
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Too far away for a good photo, but you can still make out this White-faced Ibis in breeding plumage.
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The photo below shows a typical marshy area in the southern states. Beaumont has done an excellent job in preserving this area. We observed several species of birds; however, it would have been fun to be there a little later to see more of them migrating through.
Cattail Marsh
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Forty degrees this morning in Loveland, Colorado. We have cloudy skies and occasional snow flakes. Spring is coming!