return of the project.

Just before the winter returned with cold  iced mornings and grey winds, the first Project Godwit returned to the Washes. It was lounging on Lady Fen, preening and then wading out to feed on the main scrape. By coincidence, this bird is named 'Lady', and was released in 2017. She has been faithful to the floodplains of East Anglia ever since - stopping it at Welney before heading off to the pilot project to breed. 

This time of year sees large numbers of Godwits huddling together on the narrow spits of exposed land in front of the main hide, and most of these birds are Icelandic breeders of the smaller, brighter race. Most are already in their rufous finery, with heavily barred backs and bills beginning to flush orange. They seem excitable and just waiting for the moment when they'll leave for the far north. Other passing waders join the throng, small Dunlin, Ruff - all of which will move on during April for the shores and boggy uplands of Scandinavia.

The more muted Welney Godwits won't attain the brightness of their northern cousins, and arrive before their black and orange summer plumage has fully emerged. By May, their spangled colours will hide them in the mixed vegetation in the wash valley.