GPS tagged Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa Limosa Islandica) at RSPB Leighton Moss, Carnforth Lancashire.

As it's past 18th April 'new' Godwit for the area are arriving. This one is particularly interesting as it is GPS tagged and marked in Portugal last winter.

The track of this bird shows it's used the Aire and Lune Valleys before coming to the coast. How many Godwit use this valley in spring?

The evenings at Rspb Leighton Moss when the Redshank are about to migrate are incredible. The excitement in the flock increases with more fly arounds until they're gone. There won't be many Redshank here until autumn now.

They look like Ospreys that know their plaice in the pecking order.

The Godwit are back in Morecambe Bay in good numbers. Here are a couple I found with colour marks. As usual in early/mid April we have birds with a previous local history.

GY-O//W is from the Wash @washwader.bsky.social

OR-GYf is part of the Icelandic scheme.

Where have you been since 2020? Originally ringed on the Tees in 2015, it's bred at RSPB Leighton Moss annually between 2017 and 2020 then disappeared until this week.