This is the bird that has been present for several weeks and seen by many obs. Molting into breeding plummage on the head and neck.
24 April 2011 - Meadows near Leiden, South Holland, The Netherlands
Black-tailed Godwit / Grutto (Limosa limosa),
subspecies: European Black-tailed Godwit / Grutto ( Limosa limosa limosa.
In spring around 90% of European Black-tailed Godwits in North-western Europa are nesting in The Netherlands. In the 1990's there was a decline of 50% in the Black-tailed Godwit populations. Luckily some meadows are now protected areas in the brooding season. IUCN's Red List for endangered species now lists this species as Near Threatened.
Read the blog about this bird: http://wildlifespotting.blogspot.com/2011/04/black-tailed-godwit-in-netherlands.html
I think the birds in the bottom left are Black-tailed Godwit
This can be seen a huge flock at Dadar beach. It is easily identified by it's white wing-bar and separated by Bar-tailed Godwit from legs, distinct white supercilium and red color beak.
The Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa, is a large, long-legged, long-billed shorebird first described by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758. It is a member of the Limosa genus, the godwits. There are three subspecies, all with orange head, neck and chest in breeding plumage and dull grey-brown winter coloration, and distinctive black and white wingbar at all times.
