Found it
outside a GameStop store in broad daylight. There was something wrong because I could go near it without it flying away or trying to.
Fruit-fly sized, attracted to fruit and vegetable scraps, but apparently not a fruit fly.
Large sharp jaws
Short-billed Dowitcher
Corpus Christi, Texas
24 Oct 1993
Unless you are a true student of shorebirds, I realize that separating Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitchers from photos is a challenge at best. This is complicated by the fact that the terms "long-billed" or short-billed" mean very little. In general, female shorebirds have longer bills than males. Thus, a female Short-billed Dowitcher may have a bill that is longer than a male Long-billed Dowitcher. Confused yet? I'm just getting started. There are three races of Short-billed Dowitchers, all of which may turn up in much of the U.S., including Texas. All three races have subtle plumage differences. Generally, at least on the Gulf coast, Short-billed Dowitchers turn up in salt water while Long-billeds prefer fresh water, but this is not a hard and fast rule. The call notes of the two species are different and may be recognized with practice. I will post several records of Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitchers here for the record, but I understand if folks do not feel they can "agree" with the sighting. All these records were confirmed by vocal and other reliable field characters.
Found close to mustang island along the Gulf of Mexico on a stormy rough day; was returned to its habitat.
Found close to mustang island along the Gulf of Mexico on a stormy rough day; was returned to its habitat.
Sitting on the seaweed at packer Channel
Sitting on the seaweed at packer Channel