Mud, Mud Glorious Mud!

Getting the car out this morning a bird I do not see near the house much nowadays flew over calling.  When we first moved here 12 years ago Curlews still nested withing earshot of the garden and the summer calls were a delight to the ear.  Sadly this species has declined a great deal as a nesting bird.  We had to go to Carmarthen for blood tests and I had to take the car to get two new tyres.  I went to Gravells in Kidwelly so an hour or so at Kidwelly Quay beckoned.

Black-tailed Godwit

Looking around I noted a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshanks, 7 Goldeneye and 5 Black-tailed Godwits amongst the more usual birds.  It was the Godwits which grabbed my attention as one was feeding pretty close right under the Quay.  It was an opportunity to get some photographs but also to study their feeding methods.

Black-tailed Godwit tugging hard at a worm

The birds just sauntered along the little muddy creeks searching for worms living in the mud.  When they found one it would take quite a bit of effort to tug away until the hapless creature could be pulled out and swallowed.

In the process the Black-tailed Godwit's legs and bill would get covered in slimy mud. 

The birds would get covered in mud on the legs and bill but would quickly wash it off and return to their pristine best.