The Wildlife of
Druridge Pools

 
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Waders - The Black-tailed Godwit

First seen on Tuesday 28th July 2020 at Druridge Pools

Godwits are easy to identify, as they are the large waders with a very long straight bill (not curved down like a curlew). However, there are two types of Godwits, not so easy to tell apart. They are the Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits. You are more likely to see Bar-tailed Godwits in Northumberland, but Black-tailed Godwits do occur here and there. Bar-tailed Godwits have (as their name suggests) a barred pattern to their tail feathers, and Black-tailed Godwits have black tails, although it's not always easy to see under their confusingly black wingtips. There are other more subtle differences such as these have a longer leg above their knees. Godwits feed by probing the sand and mud with their long bills. These were found feeding at Druridge pools.


 


 

Godwits are grey in the winter, but they change to a lovely coppery-red in the summer. When Godwits are in flight, its much easier to see their tails - below, you can clearly see the black patch on their tails, which give them their name.