Saturday, 21 April 2012

Black-winged Stilt


A distant shot in gale force and rainy conditions of this recent visitor to a nearby reserve, just over the border from the Peterborough Bird Club recording area. This Black-winged Stilt has been seen in a few places in the last week or so, Oxfordshire for a day, then Rutland Water for a day and then it flew to a little reserve in Lincolnshire called Willow Tree Fen for a period of 5 days where I managed to catch up with it before it moved on to Frampton Marsh on the Wash where it has been present for the past couple of days.

The Black-winged Stilt is an annual, but rare visitor to Britain, with a few breeding attempts and a long-staying individual staying at Titchwell in Norfolk for a number of years (just `Google` Sammy the Stilt + Titchwell and you will see this individual). An extremely long-legged wader with red legs, a white and black body and long, straight delicate bill. Quite unmistakeable when seen properly.

This is the second individual I have seen in this country, the first being in the PBC area a few years ago at Maxey GP, it`s just a shame this bird flew over our area and decided to drop in just 1km over the border. For this reason I can`t add it to my year list!
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20 comments:

  1. Midmarsh John21 April 2012 at 16:35

    I can see where it gets its name from lol.

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    1. John23 April 2012 at 19:56

      Hi John,
      Yes, it does have amazingly long legs, almost like stilts! ;)
      J

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  2. holdingmoments21 April 2012 at 17:39

    Quite an unmistakable looking bird John; even I could ID them lol
    A good tick.

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    1. John23 April 2012 at 19:57

      Hi Keith,
      Yes, they are pretty unmistakable, once seen never forgotten.
      J

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  3. ShySongbird21 April 2012 at 18:24

    Hi John, isn't it a gorgeous bird? I've seen a lot about it in the last week or so especially with it being seen in Oxfordshire (only the second county record). It really has got the most amazingly long legs, I saw it on video somewhere and those legs look so delicate! Well done on seeing and photographing it!! I don't know why but I do like 'longy leggy' birds :-)

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    1. John23 April 2012 at 19:59

      Hi Jan,
      Yes, this bird has been doing the rounds lately and luckily decided to stop off somewhere fairly close to me, just not close enough for my PBC year list!
      J

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  4. Roy21 April 2012 at 18:50

    Well it was good to see it, thats the main thing John.
    Yes I remember Sammy, I observed him the very first time I went to Titchwell.

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    1. John23 April 2012 at 20:00

      Hi Roy,
      Yes, you are right, that is the main thing. I never managed to see Sammy in the flesh, so to speak, so it`s nice to have seen a couple of other birds, even though they haven`t got the celebrity status of Sammy! ;)
      J

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  5. grammie g22 April 2012 at 00:38

    Hi John...Very interesting your writing about this bird and it's almost ; } visit to your area...!!
    At least you saw it and a photo to boot... : }}
    Grace

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    1. John23 April 2012 at 20:01

      Hi Grace,
      Thank you. Only 1 km away, can you believe it?! ;)
      J

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  6. Gillian Olson22 April 2012 at 03:26

    Love those red legs.

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    1. John23 April 2012 at 20:01

      Hi Gillian,
      Yes, very long and very red!
      J

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  7. Susan Scheid22 April 2012 at 14:12

    I second what ShySongbird has said about those "long leggy" birds. Was just thinking of you & your digiscope while sitting out with my binoculars watching for activity at our new nest boxes. Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird arrived, each with a little morsel in beak. They sat on the nest box roof, then went in, one after the other, so there must be babies! Thrilling sight!

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    1. John23 April 2012 at 20:02

      Hi Susan,
      That would be an amazing sight! I look forward to hearing and possibly seeing any news on the Bluebird family.
      J

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  8. Britta22 April 2012 at 18:53

    Dear John,
    a beautiful bird!
    Today I looked up a clip of 'House of Cards' which Susan Scheid had mentioned - and was surprised when the politician quoted 'Peterborough'!
    You have such a big range of birds there, adorable!

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    1. John23 April 2012 at 20:03

      Hi Britta,
      Thank you! Ahh, you can`t go anywhere without hearing about Peterborough! ;)
      We have a fairly good range of birds, but not as good as mainland Europe.
      J

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  9. Cuby23 April 2012 at 12:46

    Never knowingly seen one! Red legs remind me of the Chough which has been reintroduced here in Cornwall in secret locations.

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    1. John23 April 2012 at 20:05

      Hi cuby poet,
      I think if you had seen one, you would remember, they are quite memorable birds.
      The Chough is a lovely bird, it`s on the flag of Cornwall I believe?
      J

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  10. bazza25 April 2012 at 11:06

    Hi John. I would guess that the word for stilts come from the name of this bird? It's a bit like an Avocet to my eye.
    Click here for Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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    1. John25 April 2012 at 14:18

      Hi Bazza,
      I don`t which came first, to be honest, but that makes sense. It is very similar to an Avocet, but the long, red legs give it away!
      J

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