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Monday, October 25, 2010
Juvenile Godwits Arrive
I kayaked over to the Crab Creek site to do a count on Friday of last week. The numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica baueri) had more than doubled since the last count (a month ago) and there were increasing numbers of other birds as well. It was good to see numbers of juvenile Godwits scattered right through the flock. Juveniles leave Alaska approx. 2-3 weeks after the adults leave. When they arrive here they are still in plumage which makes it fairly easy to see them. They will only keep this plumage for a little while and within a couple of months will have the usual adult non-breeding plumage. In the first photo the bird on the left front is a juvenile. 
For more bird photos visit the Bird Photography Weekly.
For more bird photos visit the Bird Photography Weekly.
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my lake already started to freeze a bit. No birds, no kayaking. :(
ReplyDeleteTake good care of the Godwits, please.
Mick, it was probably too cold during the blooming period of the rowan trees. No insects, no fruit. I´ve never seen them so empty. :(
Hi Mick. It still amazes me the distances that these waders make to complete their migration journey. Cheers FAB.
ReplyDeleteHi NatureFootstep it must be very cold up your way if the lake is freezing. Very interesting about the rowan trees and the cold weather effecting the setting of fruit. I hope the bird can find something else to eat.
ReplyDeleteHi Frank, the distances the birds travel are always astonishing and I especially think of these distances when I realize these young ones have come down here by themselves.
Cool shots of the Godwits Mick! I really like the second one with the lead bird's wings up.
ReplyDeleteIt is rather amazing that the juvies follow that much later than the adults.
Thanks Larry. I have read that the juveniles are not well developed enough or strong enough to migrate when the adults leave. There is not a lot of time in the very short arctic season.
ReplyDelete...beautiful birds. I also am amazed at their migration. I didn't realize the juveniles stayed back to mature and then flew on by themselves...
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly, - one of nature's marvels!
ReplyDeleteHi Mick
ReplyDeleteGlad you can tell the bubs from the Mums 'n Dads.
I suppose you are wanting to find yourself another "flagged" one.
.
Re migrations, the adult Muttonbirds (which pretty much do the same trip in reverse as your beloved Godwits) also leave before the chicks, which have to navigate on instinct totally.
No-one to say "hurry up", or "turn left past Japan".
It is all so wondrous.
Denis
Thanks for the shots Mick. It's also amazing that bar tails are common in the UK, a widespread arctic species in fact.
ReplyDeleteHi Denis, it would be fantastic to see a flagged one as important as the one we found before! Thanks for the info re the Muttonbirds which I didn't know. Teens taking control and responsibility !!! Wonderful!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Phil, I went and looked in my books as I hadn't realized you had Bar-tails up your way. Very interesting.
Awesome shots of the godwits, Mick! The juvenile's plumage really stands out from among the adults.
ReplyDeleteI hope to see some godwits here in the Philippines soon.
Awesome, godwits!
ReplyDeleteAh those teenagers! Always have to be different. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting Bob, Zen and Halcyon. Bob, I hope you can see some Godwits over your way soon.
ReplyDeleteMick, do you get many juv Godwits coming through there?
ReplyDeleteHi Mark, yes quite a number but I have never done a count of them and I don't think anyone else has either. The Sandy Strait is a huge area - even just this southern portion - and we only count a couple of the roosts regularly. We need more counters - desperately!
ReplyDelete