Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Got the Godwit!

One thing the day job aspect of trying to do any sort of 'Big Year' usually does not allow is the ability to 'chase'. Unless we plan ahead, and have a very patient and happy bird, we really can't run after rarities the way we would like to. That said, when Ron Weeks told the Texbird faithful yesterday that he was pretty darn sure he had a Black-tailed Godwit in a flooded field in the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge about a hour south of town, we left straight from work to get the bird. And... success!


The bird was still there when we arrived around 6:45pm. He was a bit distant and under some harassment by a group of bully Terns, but overall seemed content foraging for food... very far away from home. In the end, I'm glad we made the move when we did. While reports from this morning had him still around, a text from the TOS alert system around noon today said the bird had flown. UPDATE: He's back! And still being seen as of the morning of 6 June.