Memorandum to: The Director of Birds Australia

From: Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)

Date: 2^nd March 2007

Voting Members: Mike Carter Andrew Silcocks

Rohan Clarke Glenn Holmes

John Hatch Jamie Matthew

Tony Palliser Danny Rogers

Cc.

Submission No 512: Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemasitca Werribee, VIC. 13^th January 2000. Submitted by: Kevin Bartram

Verdict: Accepted

This submission relates to the sighting of a Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica at Werribee Sewage Farm, VIC on the 13^th January 2000. The bird was first located at Austin Roads Lagoon in association with other waders including 4 Bar-tailed Godwit and 4 Black-tailed Godwit and we understand the bird remained in the area until at least the 22^nd January 2000.

The description and supporting sketches conclude the identity beyond all doubt. The bird was seen by a number of experienced observers (a number of them voting committee members) who agree with the identity. Numerous views of the diagnostic underwing were obtained both when the bird was stationary and in flight. No obvious signs of moult were apparent, suggesting the bird was in full basic (winter) plumage.

Committee members voted unanimously in favour of acceptance making this the 1^st record for Victoria and the 4^th record to be accepted by BARC.

Selected Bibliography:

• Beaman, M. & Madge S. (1998), The Handbook of Bird Identification for Europe and the Western Palearctic, Princeton, New Jersey.
• Cramp, S. (Ed.) 1985. The birds of the Western Palearctic. Volume 3. Waders
  to Gulls. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

· Higgins, P.J. & Davies S.J.J.F. (Eds.) (1996). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol. 3: Snipe to Pigeons. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

• Hayman, P., Marchant, J. & Prater, T. (1986), Shorebirds; an Identification Guide to the Waders of the World, Croom Helm, Sydney.
• Patterson, R.M. (1991) ‘Submission # 66’, RAOU Records Appraisal Committee, Opinions and Case Summaries 1988-1991, RAOU Report # 80, 15-16.

Tony Palliser

Chairman, Birds Australia Rarities Committee