Hudsonian Godwit at Burton mere wetlands

I missed the Hudwit at Meare heath back in 2015 so it's been a long time waiting for another chance to see this species so when one was found at Burton mere wetlands on 12th August I thought the opportunity might come to connect with it but it was only seen for a few hours on 13th and then not since until yesterday when it reappeared at Burton mere wetlands and showed well all afternoon into the early evening. I called Jim and we decided we'd go give it a try today and set off at 6am to make the 210 mile trip. By 8am news came through that the bird had returned and so arriving just before 10am we started the 0.9 mile walk out to border hide where the bird was reportedly still showing. The hide was packed but we found some space and settled down to watch the bird as it slept hidden among the flock of around 150 Black-tailed Godwits. I found a single Barwit and several Knot in the roost and watched for thirty minute or so to see first a couple of wing flaps to show the dark underwing and then even on a couple of occasions saw the birds head. The volunteers were understandably putting some passive pressure on the group to clear the hide once they'd seen the bird to allow room for those outside so I grabbed a few record shots and moved on as requested.

Border hide

The dark underwing

Sleeping

Still sleeping

The head shot

Another head shot

and sleeping again

Also seen on the visit were 13 Greenshank, 20+ Snipe, 20+ Ruff, Great Egret, Marsh Harrier, Lapwings etc. A smart reserve well marshalled by the volunteers on the day. The bird flew off an hour after we left the hide and didn't return so we really timed the visit well today. A horrible run home with the M25 playing up and adding an hour to our return journey as it often does.

year list now 227 Life list 449

The Hudsonian Godwit has five previous accepted records 

1981 Blacktoft sands East Yorks/Countess weir Devon (presumed same bird)

1983 Blacktoft sands presumed returning bird

1988 Slains pools, Aberdeen

2015 Meare Heath, Somerset

2020 Eden estuary, Fife

There's also the 2023 record from Shetland likely to be accepted which would make the Burton mere bird the 7th for Britain.