Leucistic Bar-tailed Godwit on Marazion beach

I found this odd looking Bar-tailed Godwit today feeding on the beach with six other Barwits.  If anyone else has seen this distinctive bird (other than on Marazion beach) it would be interesting to know.

Bar-tailed Godwits

These shots of barwits were taken last month at Marazion beach. The second shot below is one of my favourites so far this year.

Bar-tailed Godwits warming up

I stumbled on a flock of fifteen Bar-tailed Godwits at Marazion beach this week, which is quite a good count for this site.  I'm assuming these are early spring migrants.  One of them was already showing early signs of summer plumage. 

Walmsley Sanctuary waderfest

This post includes 12 images of a variety of waders from the CBWPS reserve at Wadebridge on Thursday evening.  A rising high tide is the key to success here.  On our visit, no less than 41 Greenshank, 114 Black-tailed Godwit, two Bar-tailed Godwit, three Little Stint, two Curlew Sandpiper (though 21 present tonight Sat 11th), Green Sandpiper, several Common Snipe and Dunlin. 

Bar-tailed Godwit and Black-tailed Godwit

Four species of wader above inc Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin and two godwits.

Little Stint

Part of a flock of 41 Greenshank, though up to 50 have been counted this week.  The colour ringed bird is the returning, annual Ythan Estuary bird.