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

Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition 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, 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 of a Black-tailed Godwit entering summer plumage was taken at Harper's Island Wetlands in Cork Harbour.

Taken in: Ireland / Munster / Glounthaune (show map)

Taken on: April 26, 2024

Tags:

Europe

Ireland

Cork Harbour

Harper's Island

Mark

Topic

Wildlife

Irish Birds

Birds

Mark Carmody

markcarmodyphotography.com

markcarmodyphotography

CarmoPolis

CarmoPolice

Carmo

Carmody

Camera

Sony

SEL200600G

200-600mm

200-600 G OSS FE 5.6-6.3

ILCE-9M2

A9II

books

Shorebirds of Ireland

Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide

Birds of Ireland

Bird

Waders

Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

Guilbneach earrdhubh

Limosa limosa

Limosa limosa islandica

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Sets appears in: • Birds of Ireland

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Camera: Sony ILCE-9M2, f/9.0, 1/1000 sec, 840mm, ISO 250 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony ILCE-9M2
Lens:	Sony FE 200–600 mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G) + 1.4X Teleconverter (SEL14TC)
Aperture:	f/9.0
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/1000)
Focal Length:	840mm
ISO:	250
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Auto
Saturation:	Low
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Capture One 23 Macintosh
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