In a sure sign that it's finally spring, the godwits have returned to their summer feeding grounds at Southshore.

Bar-tailed godwits have made their spring return to Christchurch's Southshore.

The first of the bar-tailed godwits were spotted on Southshore Spit at high tide on Thursday afternoon by Council Park Ranger Andrew Crossland. He counted 177 new arrivals. Other birds present are juveniles and non-breeders that have spent the winter here.

Two of the returned godwits are wearing plastic bands on their legs, which means their life history and migratory patterns can be tracked by researchers.

Mr Crossland said the rising tide forced them off the sand bar and they flew across the estuary to Charlesworth Reserve, a tidal wetland that Christchurch City Council has developed as a safe roosting site for godwits and other wading birds.

"The birds were extremely restless, taking flight and circling the wetland at the slightest provocation - most often harassment by a passing gull or hawk."

These early arrivals are expected to be joined by another 1000 to 1500 of the birds over the next three to four weeks as they return from their breeding grounds 11,000 km away in Alaska.

The wading birds left Christchurch in March and flew non-stop for almost 10,0000 km to the Yellow Sea coasts of China and the Korean Peninsula, where they refuelled for three to four weeks before completing their migration, crossing the North Pacific to Alaska to breed on the open Arctic tundra.

They've now made the return journey south in a remarkable long-distance flying feat.

The godwits usually arrive on Christchurch’s estuary in mid-September, although the exact date varies by a few days each year. Mr Crossland said this year's arrival on 7 September was "extremely early". Last year they arrived on 19 September, and in 2015 it was 14 September.

The new arrivals can be distinguished from those who have spent the winter in Christchurch by their red feathering and tattered plumage.

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