Date: 4/19/25 3:52 pm From: KELLY ORMESHER <kbormesher...> Subject: Marbled Godwit Dade County
Hello All,
I ran out this afternoon during a break in the rain and headed over to Hedeman Lake/England Pond in Dade County. There was a large movement of sparrows and American Golden Plovers. It had started to rain again while I was scanning the fields, and I happened to notice a large shorebird among the AGPL. Right away I noticed the bicolored bill and overall buffy tones to the bird. It turned out to be a lone Marbled Godwit.
Of course, I didn't have my camera. While I was trying to figure out how to capture a photo using my phone and binoculars, a Bald Eagle caused the birds to flush. As they circled around, I got good looks at the birds in flight. Coincidentally, it turned out there were seven Godwits in total. Six Hudsonian and the single Marbled. This confirmed the Marbled Godwit as I noticed its cinnamon undersides and lack of white patches in the wings and white rump.
I went back to capturing a photo, keeping an eye on the group of Godwits. They flushed again, and the Marbled was the only Godwit that returned. It looked like the AGPL and HUGO flew toward the southwest field where there were large numbers of American Golden Plovers.
When I departed, the Marbled Godwit had returned to the shoreline and continued to forage. I even got some photos of the bird which is my Missouri life bird #301.
