We were keeping an eye on a Birdguides report of a Hudsonian godwit at RSPB Titchfield Haven, and decided we’d head that way - but only if the bird was confirmed. Before that, we planned to meet up with Kev’s sister, Karen @hobbylovinglife, and her partner Dean @worlebirder, to try our luck with quail. If the Hudwit was relocated, we’d make the journey to join the gathering of birders; if not, we’d continue deeper into the Downs and head for Salisbury Plain, hoping for stone-curlews and great bustards.
After stopping for breakfast en route, we were the first to arrive at the meeting point near Collingbourne Ducis. As we stepped out of the car, we were met by an unexpectedly chilly wind and a stiff breeze sweeping across the fields. We began scanning the area and were soon serenaded by the calls of skylarks, whitethroats, and corn buntings echoing from the fields.
Karen and Dean soon joined us, and since it was unlikely we’d spot a quail from where we stood, we set off on foot toward the area where Karen and Dean heard one calling last year. Along the way, we spotted a couple of red kites gliding effortlessly along the slopes. One eventually drifted right over us, calling as it passed - a lovely moment, and I was pleased to capture a decent photo, even with the bird partly silhouetted against the sky.
As we dropped lower, we started to see some meadow pipits, whitethroat, and corn buntings - there seem to be many more corn buntings generally across this region. In the UK they are a farmland specialist but have seen a major population decline (dropped by over 85% since the 1970s), making it a conservation concern. It is most common in eastern and southern counties with small populations in South Wales and parts of Scotland. They are now largely absent from northern England and much of the west.
Wiltshire is recognised for having the highest corn bunting population in the UK, largely due to its expansive open arable landscapes which provide ideal habitat. The birds prefer areas with minimal tree cover, favouring low hedges and open fields. Salisbury Plain, a vast chalk plateau, also serves as a crucial stronghold for corn buntings. Conservation strategies and efforts however have contributed to a 35% increase in corn bunting numbers in England over the past decade.
Down in the hollow and along the edge of a footpath we could see more corn buntings and some stonechats, but they were too distant for photos. We reached some likely areas for quails and stopped to listen for calls, Karen marching on to the corner of the road and stopping to listen from there. On her way back a couple of yellow wagtails dropped into the field margin and after she'd taken a few photos they flew off but then dropped in closer to where Kev, Dean and I stood. One bird left and was replaced by another coming in low over the crop - when it landed, we could see it was a rarer Channel wagtail - these are a fascinating example of hybridisation within the wagtail species complex. They are a hybrid of yellow and blue-headed wagtails.
They are not treated as a distinct species by birders, but as a hybrid or sub-species; the key feature is a pale bluish-grey head, lacking the prominent white supercilium of continental blue-headed variety. They are found sporadically in southern and eastern England during Spring and Summer with breeding confirmed in parts of Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Somerset. These areas have seen a small number of breeding Channel wagtail pairs, often in wet meadows or pastureland with livestock, which attract insect. With yellow wagtail numbers declining in the UK, all related forms like the Channel wagtails may also be at risk. In general, the loss of suitable wet grassland habitats is a key factor.
Suddenly, Dean stopped and told us he’d just heard a quail call. A couple of minutes later, I heard a single burst myself - unfortunately, neither Kev nor Karen caught anything, and despite waiting, there were no further calls. We dropped back and followed a track downhill, hoping to get out of the breeze and improve our chances of hearing the quail. It was much more sheltered and pleasant down there, but we didn’t hear the quail again.
We continued along the track, where we soon encountered several whitethroats flitting through the hedgerows, their scratchy song drifting along. A little further on, we came across a couple of stonechat family groups, busy and full of energy. The adults were actively foraging and being followed their fledglings, and it was a real treat to get clear views of a few of the juveniles, their speckled plumage standing out beautifully against a backdrop of spring blossom - a perfect scene of the season in full swing.
We'd seen that the Hudwit had been reported and decided that we'd return to the cars and head straight there - it would be a lifer for three of us - they are extremely rare vagrants in the UK. As of June 2025, there are seven accepted records of Hudsonian godwit in the UK, with an eighth record from Shetland in 2023 likely to be accepted soon.
Hudsonian godwits breed in remote areas of North America, winter in southern South America and undertake long-distance migrations, sometimes making non-stop flights of 6,000+ miles. The UK lies far outside their normal migratory corridor, so vagrancy is likely caused by: strong westerly winds, disorientation during migration, or perhaps weather events like hurricanes.
Hudwits are similar in shape to black-tailed godwits, but there are key differences: they are slightly smaller and more compact, their bill is long and slightly upturned with a pinkish base, and the underwing is a key identification feature, particularly in flight - dark greyish to blackish underwing coverts and axillaries. This dark underwing contrasts sharply with the pale belly and white rump when the bird is in flight and so is a key photo to capture when observing the species - very important for separation from black-tailed godwit, which has pale underwings.
The reserve had adjusted its operations to accommodate the influx of visitors, temporarily selling tickets at the Scrapes side entrance during the peak of the excitement. We entered and headed straight for the first hide, only to find it packed - quite literally elbow to elbow. Despite the crowd, we managed to set up our scopes and get the bird in view, though it was initially asleep. Fortunately, I found a spot by the window, giving me a good chance for some photographs, especially once the bird stirred and began moving out into the water.
The bird then flew in closer, though I missed the chance for a photo at first - it went on to put on a great show, giving us all prolonged views. We were then joined by Nick @old_caley and Anne Truby.
We were then treated to some flights, some just relocation, but also when a shelduck took exception to its presence.
At the far end, I spotted a little gull, but the heat haze made it impossible to get a clear record photo. We moved to the hide at the opposite end of the pool, and eventually, I managed to pick it out again, though the heat haze still posed a challenge. The Hudsonian godwit also shifted to our end, but by then the views had become more interrupted.
With time moving on we started back and bumped into Ewan Urquhart @Stormvogel99 and Jason Coppock @coppock_jason coming the other way and stopped for a chat - Ewan telling me about his time on Arran, and his trip to Shetland.
We stopped outside the gate and on the edge of the beach with an ice cream, waiting for Karen and Dean to catch up, a kestrel hovering just on the opposite side of the road - Karen was wanting another flight photo showing a clearer view of the underwing. They also bought ice creams, and I pointed out a couple of drake eiders down the beach but drifting our way - eventually they'd fly by.
It would take us over two hours to get home and so we set off leaving Karen and Dean to drop back onto Salisbury Plain on the way home.
Year list: 202.
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