An Elegance of Waders 4th August 2020

Waders are always an attractive subject for photography and especially those with long legs and bills. Today, two species in particular sprang to mind and were to be found at Slimbridge WWT (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust). They were Black tailed Godwits and a Spotted Redshank with hopefully some other wader species to complement the experience.

Two races of Black tailed Godwits occur in Europe; the Icelandic race Limosa limosa islandica of which a small number breed in Shetland but most in Iceland and The Faeroes. The birds currently at Slimbridge were of this race, amassing into a moulting flock, having recently arrived from their breeding grounds. They will either spend the winter in Britain or join others that winter throughout western Europe. The other race Limosa limosa limosa breeds in very small numbers in eastern England but is much more widespread through western and central Europe to Russia and central Asia. It is a very rare bird on passage in Britain and winters in West Africa.

As an aside did you know the Black tailed Godwit is the national bird of The Netherlands?

Spotted Redshanks do not breed in Britain but across northern Scandinavia and northern Siberia and winter in small numbers in southern England thence southwards to the Mediterranean countries and tropical Africa. 

In these straitened times it is now necessary to pre-book a visit to Slimbridge and my booking was for today where I planned to spend half a day looking at my chosen waders. In a way it is no bad thing that the numbers of people visiting Slimbridge each day are currently restricted as this ensures no hide is overly full, which they often were in those 'normal' times that seem so distant now.

The two hides at Slimbridge, where it is best to see the waders in question are the Rushy Hide and the South Lake Hide. The former, which I know from past experience, is always a good bet for Black tailed Godwits, and the latter is where the Spotted Redshank could be seen from. 

The Black tailed Godwits at the Rushy Hide were the first of many more to come, returning from their breeding grounds, while the Spotted Redshank was an adult, almost fully moulted into its non breeding plumage and may winter here or move further south. 

I joined a small line of fellow visitors waiting for the Visitor Centre to open at 9.30 and at the appointed hour was soon processed and on my way to the Rushy Hide where I found myself with just one other birder for company. Looking out I could see a phalanx of chestnut orange bodies arraigned on a muddy spit, many stood on one very long leg. They were the desired Black tailed Godwits, all of which were adults, many still in summer plumage and only beginning to commence to moult into their dull grey and buff winter plumage. A number were already almost there, appearing as overall grey birds amongst the more colourful individuals around them while some non breeding first summer birds were in a transitional plumage of orange and grey.

Many were asleep, but as is typical with sleeping waders there was a constancy of movement as individual birds rotated their bodies left and right checking on birds either side of them or for general danger. Others would suddenly awake, whipping out their long bill, hidden in their scapulars, to deal with an irritating feather and once satisfied it was adequately dealt with they would snuggle their bill into their back feathers to sleep once more.

Two Black tailed Godwits.
The individual at the back, is a male in full summer plumage and the bird in front almost moulted into full winter plumage

Black tailed Godwits possess an innate elegance, a symmetry of form, their very long legs counterbalanced by an extremely long and straight bill. The bird itself possesses a lean and muscular looking body a long neck and small head. Both the long bill and legs have a function in allowing the bird to wade deep into water and probe their bill into the mud on the bottom. 

Good numbers of the godwits were feeding in the water, wading belly deep, constantly probing with a rapid drilling motion of their bill into the mud below the water, often immersing their head in the water and then, on finding something to eat, withdrawing head and bill to throw the morsel down  their throat by way of a couple of upward jerks of their bill before resuming their energetic quest of the muddy bottom. It is a very characteristic and distinctive behaviour which identifies them immediately.

This feeding individual is in transition from summer to winter plumage

Others left the water to probe the short grass of the scrape, as always their sociability ensuring they kept company with others of their kind but they seemed to find sourcing food on land less successful than probing the mud below the water of the lagoon. Inevitably they made their way back into the water to join the others. Maybe the ground was not wet enough to allow their sensitive bills to penetrate the ground adequately.

A female Black tailed Godwit.The orange colouring in particular is paler than the male and to my eyes the females often looked larger. Note also the very long legs and bill

In summer plumage they are quite superb, especially the males The head, neck, breast and upper mantle are orange chestnut while the rest of the upperparts are chequered black and orange. The underparts from fore flanks to tail are white, variably barred black. The origin of their name is revealed when they preen or fly as the black tail contrasts with the all white rump and the huge white bars on each wing are revealed.

Adult male Black tailed Godwit

It is impossible for them to appear inelegant as they stalk around on their long thin legs probing the ground or water with their equally long bills and even when preening they retain a certain grace of movement, and watching them I was touched by the way they regularly dip the tip of their bill into the water to moisten it before resuming nibbling at their feathers. 

Looking out from the hide I relaxed into the moment, joining in a form of mindful symbiosis with the godwits, their breeding urges subsided and now enjoying the long gentle decline into autumn before the hardships of surviving the winter are upon them. It is a golden time for both bird and observer. One of quiet calm and tranquillity. Something to be treasured.

There were, of course, other birds to enjoy, especially a Green Sandpiper that waded in the water up to its belly though on much shorter legs but in its own way demonstrated an elegance of a less obvious kind.

Green Sandpiper

I made my move to the South Lake Hide to try and find the Spotted Redshank. The hide itself was a contrast to the spartan confines of the Rushy Hide, being carpeted and with almost luxurious seating. Again I  was pleasantly surprised at how unpopulated the hide was and sat in a corner to observe a flock of waders stood in the shallow water, all the birds preening or asleep.There was a mixture of predominantly Black tailed Godwits and Common Redshanks with one or two Ruff amongst them.Two of the Ruff had conspicuously white heads, a remnant of their breeding plumage.

Male Ruff

A somewhat scruffy adult Common Redshank moulting into winter plumage

Now where was the Spotted Redshank? It was not to be found amongst the roosting waders so I checked those waders moving around in the water, feeding. Soon, I located it near to the nearside bank of the lagoon, silvery grey and distinctively pale, especially on its underparts, greyer feathers having mainly replaced its black summer plumage and with a bill noticeably red at the base of the lower mandible.However it was its energetic feeding action which most betrayed it. At times, wading deep enough in the water to almost swim, it fed with a faster motion than the Common Redshanks, sometimes sweeping its partially submerged bill rapidly from side to side as it rushed through the water.

Adult Spotted Redshank

It was moving towards me and came close to the hide which gave me the opportunity to take some nice images. Again its legginess and long, thin and tapered bill imparted an innate elegance to my eyes. Slightly larger and longer legged than the associating Common Redshanks it was noticeably slimmer in its body. Looking every bit the thoroughbred amongst its stockier cousins.

The movements and actions of both godwits and spotted redshank were almost balletic, a constant delight to watch, an enjoyment and entertainment based on entirely natural circumstances.

You know what? I am going again as it was so enjoyable.