Wader ID please

snake · #1 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 08:16 AM

I spent a pleasant hour yesterday morning sitting at the bottom of the sea wall out of the cold wind watching the birds on the saltings.
Plenty of gull movements along with a few common terns and a pack of Godwits that were flitting up and down. Not sure if they are black or bar tailed.
They also had a few Grey Plover in amongst them.

diggleken · #2 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 08:28 AM

Hi Snake,
I think these are bar tails - male rufous underbelly and short leg trail points to that - black tails have a much longer trailing leg.
Cheers
Ken

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-05-2011, 12:06 PM

Agree Bar-tailed Godwits. There have been quite a few birds in the London area in recent days on the mouth of the Thames, several at places like the London Wetland Centre + Brent Res as well as a flock over Wormwood Scrubs!