Thursday 28 April 2011

Barwits

A couple of very obliging Bar-tailed Godwits dropped into Maxey GP this evening. They looked to be female because of their brown plumage (the males at this time of year are almost brick red) and the length of their bill. They were quite happy feeding away and are a very welcome addition to my PBC year list.







Digiscoped using Canon Powershot A640 and Kowa TSN-883 x30


This bird is a close relation to the Black-tailed Godwit that I mentioned in a previous posting, but is slightly smaller with a slightly upturned bill. Unlike the `Blackwit` this bird has little leg showing above the bend in the leg and it lacks the white wing-bar. The male in Spring has a brick-red face, neck and underparts, with a mottled grey back, the female (shown) is larger than the male with a much longer bill and is less colourful (but still attractive).

The Bar-tailed Godwit does not breed in this country and is seen either on passage or in the winter months. It is a powerful migrant, indeed it has been shown that they are capable of flying across the Pacific Ocean in a single stage. One bird has flown from New Zealand to China without stopping, a distance of 11,026km!

14 comments:

  1. Now that is a very nice capture John. Lovely end product as well.

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  2. Lovely photos John!

    New Zealand to China without a stop, wow! I wonder if it had jet lag ;)

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  3. Thanks Roy,
    I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time!
    J

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  4. Hi ShySongbird,
    Thankyou.
    Don`t know about the jet lag, but it makes my arms ache just thinking about all that flying! ;)
    J

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  5. Too true bazza, too true.
    J

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  6. Great photos. Unfathomable how they fly such long distances in a single shot.

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  7. A lovely series of photos John. Such a long slender beak for all that poking around in soft ground.

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  8. Thankyou Raining Acorns,
    It is quite amazing that any bird can travel such a long way, but without stopping is quite amazing!
    J

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  9. Thanks John,
    Yes, it is amazing that they manage to eat with such a protuberance!
    J

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  10. What I wouldn't do for a pair of wings like that! Beautiful pics John

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  11. Thanks Rebecca,
    I know, I would like to have that amount of energy!
    J

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