Dowitcher at Lake Tutchewop in Northern Victoria

Nobody has commented here on the habitat preferences – wintering Short-billed Dowitchers in winter are apparently confined to the coast and favor inter-tidal mudflats, while Long-billed are happy with inland and coastal sites. Such an inland location would support a Long-billed diagnosis if the bird sticks around. And apparently it has been there for a few days. It is said that Long-billed don’t migrate as far as Short-billed, but Long-billed occur in Siberia so maybe its current location is not that much beyond it’s normal range. The other curious feature is why the bird is in full colour breeding plumage – seems to have its dress sense wires crossed as well as its navigation wires. Anyway, a very beautiful and enigmatic bird which might bring a lot of birders to the region if it sticks around. Lets hope we don’t put too much pressure on it and make it leave. From my observations yesterday, it does not appear particularly flighty, having stayed behind on one occasion when all the surrounding Sharpies and Stints took off. But there are many hundreds of waders on the lake so a spooking BOP can put them all up and drag it with them. Patience is a virtue with this bird. Lake Tutchewop has a significant stream flowing into it from the south at the moment – lots of Marsh Sandpipers at that location along with hundreds of Banded stilt and Avocets. I assume this is environmental flow which might keep the lake at a reasonable level for some time. Could be quite interesting there as the summer progresses! Mark Stanley