WWT Welney Flight Shots (1 Viewer)

[BrianWH]

Can you help me Identify the birds in these Flight Shots? I am particularly interested in the odd dark bird in the centre as I suspect he is the one that set them off.

I will update my friends on my absence later

 

[Prestdj]

black tailed godwits and a single lapwing the dark bird

 

[BrianWH]

black tailed godwits and a single lapwing the dark bird

Thanks, I am surprised as they didn't look that big, although they were a long way off.

 

[Butty]

 

[BrianWH]

Very Droll thanks.

I can see in a later shot that they are Godwits, when they turned and showed their profile better.

 

[Prestdj]

Very Droll thanks.

I can see in a later shot that they are Godwits, when they turned and showed their profile better.View attachment 1419347

great photo

 

[smiths]

The birds were spooked by a Marsh harrier, apparently.

 

[Butty]

... because?

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Butty,
after reading the answer, I was first puzzled, too. We all know and benefit from the knowledge of smiths. But then I realized, that there must be Marsh Harrier in the picture.
I must admit I searched all three pictures for another species and didnt found one. But when you know, there is a MH somewhere, you can find it.

 

[Butty]

Found! Vg 🏆
😉

 

[Derbyfella]

The lapwing in the last picture was interesting. If it hadn’t been mentioned or shown previously, I’d probably just have missed it in the third pic….if I had seen it, I would have been flummoxed, as it was because it was in the other two I could figure out what it was…a still picture is great, but their flight is so singular!

 

[Scridifer]

Good to see you posting Brian! (and good to see the Hammers in the top four!)

Chris

 

[Evan Atkinson]

Lapwing + BTG (Black-Tailed Godwit). Appear to be so many in flight due to a predator nearby (Marsh Harrier or other large BOP), which is what smiths has said above.

 

[Evan Atkinson]

Hello Butty,
after reading the answer, I was first puzzled, too. We all know and benefit from the knowledge of smiths. But then I realized, that there must be Marsh Harrier in the picture.
I must admit I searched all three pictures for another species and didnt found one. But when you know, there is a MH somewhere, you can find it.

It's in the bottom right corner of the 3rd picture, chestnut brown wings flying away from the camera with the creamy coloured head.