{"id":91595,"date":"2026-04-12T15:24:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T14:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/?p=91595"},"modified":"2026-04-12T15:24:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T14:24:06","slug":"godwits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/2026\/04\/12\/godwits\/","title":{"rendered":"Godwits"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was, as is often the case, at Welney bird reserve this morning. The light was better than yesterday.<\/p>\n

The highlight of the morning was when a marsh harrier put up a flock of black-tailed godwits, which are there at present before probably moving on as migrants to Iceland to breed, although there is also a small resident population.<\/p>\n

These birds are spectacular in flight, murmurating spectacularly, or susurating if you so wish, if you think the term murmurating is reserved for starlings, as some claim it to be.<\/p>\n

I took these pictures when they were flying that way, the birds showing off their white bellies as they flew in one direction:<\/p>\n

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When they turn (which they do in unison), they then appear dark, based on the view of\u00a0 their upper bodies:<\/p>\n

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A blown-up shot of their undersides makes clear just how beautiful these birds are:<\/p>\n

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The russet heads are only seen in the breeding season. Most now have them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I was, as is often the case, at Welney bird reserve this morning. The light was better than yesterday. The highlight of the morning was
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