Black-tailed Godwit/Guilbneach earrdhubh (Limosa l. islandica)

The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson
Shorebirds of Ireland with Jim Wilson.
Freshwater Birds of Ireland with Jim Wilson
www.markcarmodyphotography.com

The Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) is a large, long-legged, long-billed shorebird first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It is a member of the Limosa genus, the godwits. There are three subspecies, all with orange head, neck and chest in breeding plumage and dull grey-brown winter coloration, and distinctive black and white wingbar at all times.

Its breeding range stretches from Iceland through Europe and areas of central Asia. Black-tailed godwits spend winter in areas as diverse as the Indian Subcontinent, Australia, western Europe and west Africa. The species breeds in fens, lake edges, damp meadows, moorlands and bogs and uses estuaries, swamps and floods in winter; it is more likely to be found inland and on freshwater than the similar Bar-tailed Godwit. The world population is estimated to be 634,000 to 805,000 birds and is classified as Near Threatened due to a decline in numbers of around 25% in the previous 15 years.

Godwits from the Icelandic population winter mainly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and the Netherlands, though some fly on to Spain, Portugal and perhaps Morocco. (wikipedia)

The bird depicted is the islandica race of Black-wits that breed in Iceland and winter in Ireland. In 2004, the population size of Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits was estimated to be around 47,000 individuals. Given the continued expansion since then, it is likely that there are now around 50-60,000 Icelandic Godwits. In a site in Cork Harbour called Harper's Island Wetlands, up to 2,000 of these beautiful birds may be found in winter, making this an internationally important wintering site for this species.

This photo is of one of the largest flocks of Godwits I have seen at Poolbeg, Dublin Bay.

Taken in: Ireland / Leinster / Irishtown (show map)

Taken on: February 18, 2023

Tags:

Behaviour

Feed

Flock

Fly

Flying

Bird

Waders

Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

Guilbneach earrdhubh

Limosa limosa

Limosa limiosa islandica

Europe

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Dublin Bay

Dublin Port

Poolbeg

Mark

Camera

Sony

200-600

200-600 G OSS FE 5.6-6.3

a9ii

Topic

Birds

Irish Birds

Wildlife

books

Birds of Ireland

Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide

Freshwater Birds of Ireland

Shorebirds of Ireland

web

Carmo

CarmoPolice

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Mark Carmody

markcarmodyphotography

markcarmodyphotography.com

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Sets appears in: • Birds of Ireland

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Camera: Sony ILCE-9M2, f/6.3, 1/800 sec, 426mm, ISO 500 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony ILCE-9M2
Lens:	Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
Aperture:	f/6.3
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/800)
Focal Length:	426mm
ISO:	500
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Saturation:	Low
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Capture One 23 Macintosh
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