The sighting of a Bar-tailed Godwit flying around over Stanborough Gravel Pits near St Albans on Sunday 10th March 2024 was quite a surprise. Part of the surprise was in that it was accompanied by several species of wader – Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Redshank but the real surprise was in its early arrival.
Typically, this species appears in Herts in late April with most records falling in either the last week of April or the first week of May. There are just three previous records of March Bar-tailed Godwits in 1990, 2013 and 2018. While most records are from the spring period, Bar-tailed Godwits are also recorded in autumn and indeed have occurred in all months save June.
Since 2000 there have been around 150 sightings of Bar-tailed Godwits in Herts,
mostly involving 1 or 2 birds, but on occasion larger flocks have been recorded. The largest to date was 150 birds over Amwell NR on 30th August 1999 but also 116 birds seen at Rye Meads on 20th April 2019, while Wilstone Reservoir, Tring recorded a flock of 80 on 29th April 2011, and Amwell a flock of at least 70 on 4th May 2012 at Great Hardmead Lake.
The best day to look out for Bar-tailed Godwits in Herts seems to be 29th April with many records on this day including 8 occasions involving flocks. Male birds are very likely to be in their beautiful rufous plumage but the early bird at Stanborough Gravel Pits this March appeared to be in the greyer winter plumage.
Bar-tailed Godwits (sometimes abbreviated to ‘Barwits’) are easily told from their similar relatives the Black-tailed Godwits in flight by their lack of white wing bars but can be more tricky on the ground. However, their shorter legs and slightly upturned bill give a very different impression to that of a Black-tailed Godwit. Of course, if you get a glimpse, as their names describe, the Bar-tailed Godwit has a barred tail while the Black-tailed a clear black terminal band and white rump.
Many waders will be on the move over the next few months so there is no better time to check out any local pools, lakes or wet areas – you just never know what might drop in. Keep your eyes on the skies too and an ear out for unusual calls – waders like the Bar-tailed Godwit will often spend a lot of time flying around calling before landing to settle. The bird at Stanborough Gravel Pits was no exception and, after circling the site several times, eventually flew off without landing.
