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After an unsuccessful attempt yesterday afternoon and evening to find the BAR-TAILED GODWIT which has been present for several days at The Hawk on Cape Sable Island I was able to study it for about two hours this morning from approximately 9-11am. Thanks to some great advice from Cape Sable Island's master birder, Johnny Nickerson, I found the bird feeding on the flats on the rising tide this morning just off the parking lot by the large Cape Sable Important Bird Area sign near the end of the Hawk Road. It could also be viewed from the orange gate at the very end of the Hawk Road. Both locations require a telescope. I don't have much time for details right now but the bird appears to be an adult in basic (winter) plumage and is unquestionably of the Asian race 'baueri'. I had several good views of the bird in flight and it showed a heavily barred rump and tail contrasting very little with the back and also heavily barred underwings. Overall in flight the bird is surprisingly uniformly patterned; the most contrasty thing on the upperparts are the dark primary coverts. If searching for this bird keep in mind the importance of timing your visit to avoid high and low tides when the bird seems to be elsewhere. The 2-3 hour window around mid-tide seems best. Also present at The Hawk this morning were 3 BLACK SKIMMERS (1 ad., 2 imm.) and there were up to six present at the Cape Sable Island causeway over the weekend. I made a quick visit over to Cape Sable this afternoon (many thanks to Leslie Smith) and walked to the lighthouse. Birds of note over there included at least 9 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS and a close view of a calling adult ROSEATE TERN (in flight) with a small flock of Commons. Good Birding, Stu Tingley Shediac, NB
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