Boom! – A Second Chance

Couldn’t believe it when the mega alert on my pager went off on Thursday 30th April 2015 – The Hudsonian Godwit had reappeared at Meare Heath in Somerset. Barrie contacted me and he was planning to go Friday afternoon, so I said, count me in. Another agonising wait but the bird was still on site at dusk and all looked promising. Sure enough it was still present Friday morning, so we set off at 1pm and we were watching a female Hudsonian Godwit around 4pm. Relief, a Lifer at last, and what a cracking bird, what I call a “once in a life time” bird. The last twitchable one some 32 years ago! Note the distinctive and unique black underwing coverts, grey neck and rufous underparts. Slightly smaller than Black-tailed Godwit. Smaller white wing panel, smaller white rump patch and a more up-tunred bill. So British List moves on to 502, and year list 193

I had not visited this reserve before and I was very impressed. There are few places in Britain where you can see full breeding plumaged Great White Egret. We also had Garganey, Hobby, Ruff (all of which were year ticks) several Bittern, Little Egret, a sizeable flock of Black-tailed Godwit, Little Ringed Plover and Cetti’s Warbler. A variety of common stuff too.

Hudsonian Godwit – Meare Heath, Somerset – 1st May 2015 – Apparent female- Third record for Britain – Tony Davison©

Great White Egret – Meare Heath, Somerset – Note the black bill, reddish thighs and bright green loves, indicating a breeding plumaged adult – Tony Davison©

Black-tailed Godwit – Meare Heath, Somerset – Note white underwing, whitish belly and underparts and white wing bar and compare with Hudsonian – Tony Davison©