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All: For some time I have felt that we have been overlooking early Western Willets in the province, and this year took time to check it out. Some field guides and regional bird books tell us that most Easterns are gone from the US E. Coast by the end of July, and that the first adult W. Willets arrive then. Some observers on naturens had mentioned that Willets disappeared in late July, but some good groups (large flocks yesterday) have been reported since. I believe most of the latter have been Westerns. Of course, we know that W. Willet is much more common after August. A few Easterns do remain, probably mostly juveniles from replacement nestings. The latest I know of was photographed by Cathy Murrant at Homeville Bridge, CBRM, 3 Oct. 2004. Recall that this summer one W. Willet was found 20 July with several Easterns at E. Passage, HRM, and photographed 27 July alongside a strikingly darker E. Willet by Rita Viau (on NS-RBA photos). Then, on 3-5 Aug. Eric Mills and I checked out a total of 13 W. Willet at Freeport, opposite Brier I., and found that ALL were worn adult Westerns, except for one apparent juvenile Western. I photographed a number of these. Then on Aug. 8, I found6 W. Willet at Hartlen Pt., and one at Conrad Beach, and NO E. Willet. On 13 Aug. I found 5 W. Willet at E. Passage and one lone juv. E. Willet behind Silver Sands Bch, Cow Bay, HRM. Because they have been overlooked at this season, I've put a photo collage of four Willets on the NS-RBA photo site, which may help in i.d. (Apologies to Richard Stern for misspelling his first name!) The different shapes of body form and bill of the two subspecies are immediately obvious. Note that the ad. E. Willet 27 July on Brier I. had retained most breeding plumage, with dark and extensive barring, whereas the ad. Western a week later at nearby Freeport, Long I., was much worn, although still retained some flank barring. Some of the other Westerns had replaced mantle and scapular feathers, but not their worn, washed out wing coverts. This worn condition of early arriving Westerns is apparently typical, and a good field clue. Note in the lower panel the differences in body shape and length and thickness of bills of the two juveniles , and the pale base on the bill of the juv. Eastern. Another useful difference is the contrast between the darker mantle and scapular plumages vs. pale wing panel on the juv. Eastern, and lack of such contrast on the juv. Western. Other good clues are the lower-pitched calls of W. Willet, and I believe they notably more wary than Easterns. Finally, these very different Willet ubspecies are on the list for a probable "split." They certainly differ in appearance, calls, etc., and don't overlap in breeding ranges. Also, many Westerns winter in N. America, whereas Easterns almost all migrate to S. America. I hope others can help learn more about their comings and goings here. Cheers, Ian McLaren
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