Short-billed Dowitchers at Crowley Lake

Observers: Matt Brady
Email: podoces@yahoo.com
Remote Name: 128.111.24.41
Date: 07/12/2004
Time: 06:02 PM -0400

Sighting

While birding Crowley Lake yesterday evening, I found a pair of Short-billed Dowitchers near the Owens River mouth. They both gave their diagnostic "tew-tew-tew" calls in flight. There were also 6 Great Egrets, 7-9 Black-necked Stilts, 63 Canada Geese, and a smattering of Great and Lesser Yellowlegs, Wilson's Phaleropes, Least Sandpipers, etc. The "tide" is out, so there are a lot more mudflats exposed than there were during my last visit. There were also a lot of Ducks out there, but all of the birds were quite skittish, generally not letting me approach within 200 meters. A scope is pretty much required. There were also a lot (60+) Nighthawks flying around. I like Nighthawks.