Black-tailed Godwit

The Black-tailed Godwit is a large wading bird with a very long straight bill and long legs. In flight it shows a white wing-stripe and a black and white tail. During the summer, birds can be seen in their brick red plumage.

Black-tailed Godwits have suffered a large breeding population decline in the past and they are now a rare breeding bird in the UK. They are summer visitors to their breeding grounds and they winter in Africa. Birds from northern Europe spend the winter on UK estuaries and coastal lagoons and marshes.

Date: 1st September 2007

Location: Maldon, Essex