On 28 August 2004, Claude G. Edwards, Michael U. Evans, Martha Heath, and Billings headed toward Ensenada in Baja California for a day of birding. At about 10:00, at the Río Guadalupe estuary near La Misión, Billings spotted an unfamiliar bird and quickly determined that its overall size, shape, and grayish-brown coloration indicated a Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica). Among those present, only Edwards had ever seen this species before. The location was a shallow freshwater estuary separated from the ocean by a wide sandbar. The estuary has exposed mud flats and is surrounded by pickleweed (Salicornia sp.) and Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima). At first the observers were looking east towards the sun, under a marine layer, resulting in a hazy image of the bird. As they began discussing the identity of the bird, Billings realized that it was no longer present. They then walked upstream along the estuary’s northern shore and relocated it. At distances as close as 12 m, and under better lighting conditions, they were able to study the bird with the aid of Billings’ Swarovski STS 80-mm HD spotting scope. At one point, the bird raised its wings and showed dark wing linings, eliminating the similar Black-tailed Godwit (L. limosa).