Marbled Godwits have a survivor’s story not unlike that of the Long-Billed Curlew. Both were hunted for meat in the late 19th century and suffered a population crash. Both birds depend on grasslands that are under pressure to be developed for agriculture.
In preparing for this post, I learned there is a small population (subspecies L. f. beringiae) that breeds in a corner of southwestern Alaska and migrate to the North American Pacific coast, travelling no further south than central and northern California to winter. The further north, the more likely the Marbled Godwits seen on the Pacific coast, are from this small and threatened population.
When I travelled through Alaska in 2005, I stopped for a few hours in Anchorage. I remember stopping at the side of the Seward Highway, south of the city to observe the vast mudflats west of the highway. Of the thousands of birds on the mudflats, most were Marbled Godwits. Looking back, I now know these must have been L.f. beringiae, as the birds breeding in the northern USA and Canadian prairies (L. f. fedoa) would never come this way.
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Morning gathering at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:24 14:30 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X1035-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Foraging at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:24 15:44 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X1346-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 12:08 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/8 |
File Name: D3X4426-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 12:09 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/5 |
File Name: D3X4427-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 12:12 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/13 |
File Name: D3X4429-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) South San Diego Bay. San Diego County, California USA 2005-04-15. |
Date Taken: 2005:04:15 6:35 |
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Location:
Boal |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/7.6, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD0789MarbledGodwit |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) South San Diego Bay. San Diego County, California USA 2005-04-15. |
Date Taken: 2005:04:15 6:43 |
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Location:
Boal |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/7.6, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD0812MarbledGodwit |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: High tide is loafing time on North Mission Bay by the Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve. San Diego County California USA 2008-11-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:11:02 10:24 |
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Location:
Kendall-Frost Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/350 |
File Name: jcd0962MarbledGodwit |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Juvenile at the beach at Border Field. The most extreme Southwest corner of the USA. San Diego County, California USA 2008-10-05. |
Date Taken: 2008:10:05 11:33 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3000 |
File Name: jcd2258MarbledGodwit.Juvenile |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) At rest with Willets. South San Diego Bay, California USA 2006-03-16. |
Date Taken: 2006:03:16 9:21 |
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Location:
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD2310-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2006 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) Near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2009-09-07. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:07 8:04 |
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Location:
La Jolla Cove |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/180 |
File Name: JCD6161.MarbledGodwit |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) Tijuana River Estuary. Imperial Beach, San Diego County, California USA 2010-02-18. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:18 11:21 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/3000 |
File Name: JCD6750.MarbledGodwit |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) Tijuana River Estuary. Imperial Beach, San Diego County, California USA 2010-02-18. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:18 11:21 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Estuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/3000 |
File Name: Cut_JCD6750.MarbledGodwit |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: (Limosa fedoa) South San Diego Bay. San Diego County, California USA 2005-04-15. |
Date Taken: 2005:04:15 6:35 |
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Location:
Boal |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/7.6, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD0789MarbledGodwit |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: High tide is loafing time on North Mission Bay by the Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve. San Diego County California USA 2008-11-02. |
Date Taken: 2008:11:07 16:31 |
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Location:
Kendall-Frost Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: jcd0908MarbledGodwit |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Flying over the slough on South San Diego Bay at 7th Street in Imperial Beach California, San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 8:13 |
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Location:
7th Street |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5X78367thStreetSlough |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Salton Sea in Imperial County, near Poe Road. Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:16 14:44 |
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Location:
Poe Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D720573-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Willets and Marbled Godwits often associate closely with each other. I saw this group while visiting the Salton Sea along the south-eastern shoreline in Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:30 14:18 |
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Location:
Salton Sea |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5D2694 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Flying with Long-billed Dowitchers near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 16:22 |
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Location:
Lack-And-Lindsey-Roads |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X6863-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: The mouth of the San Luis Rey River in Oceanside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:23 11:32 |
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Location:
San Luis Rey Rivermouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X0278-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:04:04 10:52 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X3693-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: The channel entering Morro Bay is a great place to meet Sea Otters and many birds. San Luis Obisbo County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:17 9:02 |
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Location:
Morro Rock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5X4160-MorroBay |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:09:08 10:00 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X8653-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Willets and Marbled Godwits often associate closely with each other. Seen while visiting the Salton Sea along the south-eastern shoreline. Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2016:10:30 14:18 |
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Location:
Salton Sea |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5D2694 |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: During high tide, shorebirds such as these Marbled Godwits congregated in sheltered areas of the bay. Waterfowl and shorebirds were the objects of my affection during the half-day I spent exploring Bodega Bay. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:06 13:09 |
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Location:
Bodega Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_8503929-BodegaBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: During high tide, shorebirds such as these Marbled Godwits congregated in sheltered areas of the bay. Waterfowl and shorebirds were the objects of my affection during the half-day I spent exploring Bodega Bay. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:06 12:28 |
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Location:
Bodega Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_8503873-BodegaBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: During high tide, shorebirds such as these Marbled Godwits congregated in sheltered areas of the bay. Waterfowl and shorebirds were the objects of my affection during the half-day I spent exploring Bodega Bay. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:06 13:14 |
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Location:
Bodega Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_8504069-BodegaBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: The channel entering Morro Bay is a great place to meet Sea Otters and many birds. San Juis Obisbo County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:17 9:02 |
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Location:
Morro Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5X4154-MorroBay |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: The channel entering Morro Bay is a great place to meet Sea Otters and many birds. San Luis Obisbo County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:17 8:58 |
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Location:
Morro Rock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5X4083-MorroBay |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: During high tide, shorebirds such as these Marbled Godwits and Willets congregated in sheltered areas of the bay. Waterfowl and shorebirds were the objects of my affection during the half-day I spent exploring Bodega Bay. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:06 12:30 |
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Location:
Bodega Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_8503902-BodegaBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Keeping company with their best friends, the Willets. Our beach at the border with Mexico can be a productive place to meet birdlife. Imperial Beach, California in San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 15:05 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: MarbledGodwit_D5X8888-BorderField |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Foraging at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:24 8:32 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X0855-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa) |
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Description: Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:09:08 10:15 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X8702-MarbledGodwit |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
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