Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica

A very rare vagrant to Europe from North America.

Having opted not to travel a long distance to see any of the previous British records of this species, I decided a short diversion while travelling down to see family in Kent was worthwhile. It was worthwhile, marginally, for the experience of seeing it in flight, but the views (and hence the photos) were attrocious. Apparently it often shows well on the Essex side of the estuary at low tide but moves to the Suffolk side at high tide where it tends to be more distant. On this occasion it wasn't just distant, but in heavy heat haze and looking more-or-less into the sun. I didn't have either the time (or inclination?) to wait several hours for the tide to drop on the off-chance that it would show better.

Hudsonian Godwit, Cattawade (Suffolk, UK), 16th July 2026