Bar-tailed Godwit - New Zealand - marathon migrators

[Tony Whitehead]

Photographed at Miranda on the Firth of Thames yesterday. Last Feb some Bar-tailed Godwits were fitted with satellite tags and their migration monitored. One bird (E7) left NZ in mid Feb 2007 for Alaska and returned in Sept 2007. The return journey was 11500km of non-stop flying. They have been feeding up over our summer and will depart over the next month to breed in the northern hemisphere. This was taken on a shallow tidal pond that the birds use to rest during the high spring tide when the mudflats are flooded - the background is comprised of 1000's of other birds - mainly godwits but also knots.
Nikon D300
Nikon 200-400 +1.4x
1/800s f5.6 iso 400 matrix +1/3
fill flash -1.7
comments and advice appreciated

[Maxis Gamez]

Hi Tony,

I like the low angle. I would like to see the bird more isolated but at the same time it adds a nice habitat.

[George DeCamp]

After flying 11500km you need a nice vacation I think!

Love the low angle, the water is really nice and the bird is really pretty. That one bird bothers me the others do not, wish he was back hanging out with them! ;)

Nice image!!