Marked BTG's.

Black-tailed Godwit. Noushka Dufort.

The Black-tailed Godwits on the Lune Estuary continue to please, especially now as I find them in their stunning summer plumage, in particular the chestnut throat and upper belly before they depart for their breeding grounds in Iceland. With persistence I've recently found two more marked birds and my man in Iceland has promptly done his bit again and forwarded me the history of one of these birds ringed in Iceland in July 2012.

You can see the movements of this individual over the three years since it's marking, having visited Cheshire, Merseyside, Wales, and Lincolnshire, then to be found off Crook Farm on the Lune Estuary on 20 April, and eight days later at Sunderland Point on 28 April. Even before this bird leaves for Iceland it will have flown at least 5,300 miles on migration alone. 

GW-OYflag 13.07.12 Svafadardalur, Road 817, Dalvik, Eyjafjordur, N Iceland

GW-OYflag 20.08.12 Frodsham Marsh, Cheshire, NW England

GW-OYflag 27.08.12 Carr Lane Pools, Hale near, Mersey Estuary,England

GW-OYflag 09.09.12 Frodsham Marsh, Cheshire, NW England

GW-OYflag 15.09.12 Carr Lane Pools, Hale, Mersey Estuary,England

GW-OYflag 22.10.12 Warren Farm, Talacre, Flintshire, NE Wales

GW-OYflag 15.11.12 Warren Farm, Talacre, Flintshire, NE Wales

GW-OYflag 27.11.12 Warren Farm, Talacre, Flintshire, NE Wales

GW-OYflag 03.12.12 Warren Farm, Talacre, Flintshire, NE Wales

GW-OYflag 27.04.13 Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, Merseyside, England

GW-OYflag 28.04.13 Caldy Wildfowl Collection, Caldy, Merseyside, England

GW-OYflag 29.04.13 Caldy Wildfowl Collection, Caldy, Merseyside, England

GW-OYflag 29.04.13 Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, Merseyside, England

GW-OYflag 30.04.13 Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, Merseyside, England

GW-OYflag 16.09.13 Marshide RSPB,Southport,Lancashire,England

GW-OYflag 23.07.14 Frampton Marsh, the Wash Estuary, Linc's, E England

GW-OYflag 30.07.14 Frampton Marsh, the Wash Estuary, Linc's E England

GW-OYflag 01.08.14 Frampton Marsh, the Wash Estuary, Linc's E England

GW-OYflag 03.08.14 Frampton Marsh, the Wash Estuary, Linc's E England

GW-OYflag 03.08.14 Frampton Marsh, the Wash Estuary, Linc's E England

GW-OYflag 08.08.14 Frampton Marsh, the Wash Estuary, Linc's E England

GW-OYflag 14.08.14 Frampton Marsh, the Wash Estuary, Linc's E England

GW-OYflag 10.09.14 Frampton Marsh, the Wash Estuary, Linc's E England

GW-OYflag 08.02.15 Warren Farm, Talacre, Flintshire, NE Wales

GW-OYflag 18.02.15 Warren Farm, Talacre, Flintshire, NE Wales

GW-OYflag 04.04.15 Marshside RSPB, Merseyside, NW England

GW-OYflag 20.04.15 Lune Estuary, Cockersands, Lanc's, England

GW-OYflag 28.04.15 Sunderland Point, Morecambe, Lanc's, England

Black-tailed Godwit. Noushka Dufort.

Thanks to Böðvar for sending me the history sheet for this bird, and to Noushka Dufort for the splendid images of this beautiful elegant wader.