Godwit questions

[werdnal]

Whilst enjoying a pasty lunch in the car alongside Par Beach Nature Reserve (Cornwall) today, amongst all the usual suspects (swans, mallards, canada geese and moohens) we suddenly saw a wader that we'd never seen here before. He/she/it was very tame and unphased by the cars or other people milling around. He came right up to the car park area and started probing around in a large puddle on the grass verge, discovering a lot of earth-worms.

He was a little smaller than a curlew, with a similar colouring, slightly buff/peachy coloured down the neck and breast, and its beak was orange at the base, black at the tip and straight. There was an old chap in the next car and he jumped out with his bird book and between us we came to the conclusion it was a Godwit, but not sure if it was Barred or Black Tailed. His colouring seemed rather dull - not as bright and cryptic as the ones in the book or some photos I have since looked up in the Gallery here.

Are they common birds? Never seen one before. I have read online that they are usually seen in flocks, but this one was solitary, although didn't seem worried about his lack of company. Would he just be passing though on migration, as I have read that some travel from New Zealand to Alaska and back, covering the longest migration of any known bird! No wonder he stopped for a snack!

[aeshna5]

Both godwit species are not uncommon in the right places. Both are strongly migratory- as are many waders.

As your bird wasn't strongly coloured (both species are quite drab in non-breeding plumage) it may have been a first year bird as I suspect most adults would be now showing some signs of breeding plumage by now.

Quite a few Black-tailed Godwits have been moving through recently + though your description isn't detailed I think more likely this species from the details you gave.

[Gill Catton]

Was the beak very long? What about a woodcock or snipe?

The behaviour doesn't sound right to me for a godwit. In my own experiance they don't tend to forage on grass verges, they seem to prefer mudflats, saltmarsh and at a push lake edges. Mind you woodcock don't tend to hang out with other waders..... hmmmm

All are quite shy birds but perhaps this one hangs out at the reserve a lot and has got used to staring humans with no ill intent - or is possibly a rescued bird now released.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by werdnal

Would he just be passing though on migration, as I have read that some travel from New Zealand to Alaska and back, covering the longest migration of any known bird! No wonder he stopped for a snack!

I think the Arctic Tern might have something to say about that.

Your description certainly sound like Black-tailed Godwit as the Bar-tailed has a slightly upturned bill.

Cheers,

Adam

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

I think the Arctic Tern might have something to say about that.

Your description certainly sound like Black-tailed Godwit as the Bar-tailed has a slightly upturned bill.

Cheers,

Adam

Godwits and grass verges? Have you seen this before then?

[SheffieldLass]

Was it long-legged, medium legged or short-legged? Black-tailed godwit are very long legged, bar tailed godwit slightly shorter legged, woodcock is very dumpy, snipe a bit less dumpy. It didn't have rather bright orange legs? Just thinking redshank, as that has the orange at the base of the bill too. They do hang about grassy wet areas as well as the more usual shore edges.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Godwits and grass verges? Have you seen this before then?

Yes Gill.

[werdnal]

Thanks for replies. Definately not a snipe or woodcock, as I said, only slightly smaller than a curlew, but with a straight beak and long black/grey legs.

When I said "grass verge" its not on the roadside as you would think of a grass verge, but along the lakeside carpark. Very short grass and due to the rain it had loads of large puddles, so plenty of muddy patches to probe around in.

[John]

Just to show it does happen. One of my Norfolk photos of this species.



John

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Godwits and grass verges? Have you seen this before then?

[welsh.lensman]

This Black-tailed godwit was feeding on its own at the Wetland centre.

I hope this is of some help to you.