ASIAN DOWITCHER

Photographed(bird in the middle) at Broome Bird Observatory, September 2016

807              ASIAN DOWITCHER        Limnodromus semipalmatus

Australia         (651)

Also known as Asiatic Dowitcher. 33-36 cm; female larger, longer bill. Found on tidal mudflats, beaches, commercial salt fields, sewerage ponds. Breeds in c. and e. Siberia, Mongolia, ne China: winters from Persian Gulf to coastal mudflats of Indonesia. Scarce but regular summer migrant to coastal n. Aust. (Sept-April); mostly abundant from Top End (NT) to Port Hedland (WA). Casual elsewhere.

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER

Photographed at Lake Tutchewop, Victoria, November 2014.

410         LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER               Limnodromus scolopaceus

Australia              (284)

Breeds in wet tundra far north of North America and eastern Siberia; migrate to southern United States and as far as Central America, also a rare visitor to western Europe, thought possible individuals could reach Australia. 26-30 cm. Habitat shallow, muddy freshwater pools, with grass or marginal vegetation. Probably rarest bird in Australia at present as only known individual.