Oct 212019
 

The Long-billed Dowitcher returned to Willington Gravel Pits on the morning of Saturday 19th October. So I decided to have another attempt at photographing it. This time it seemed settled as it was roosting on a tiny island just from the main hide. It showed for a good 45 minutes before a Sparrowhawk flew through and flushed it and the accompanying Lapwings.

It flew off towards High Bridge Gravel Pits, where it was re-located briefly in the afternoon.

In the following 2 photographs you can clearly see the plain grey centred tertials which help to identify it from the rarer Short-billed Dowitcher.

Long-billed Dowitcher – Willington Gravel Pits – 19.10.19
Long-billed Dowitcher – Willington Gravel Pits – 19.10.19
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