Taken on a trip to Cley Marshes mid August. on the sightings board it stated there where spotted Redshanks seen that day. Waders are my weakest spot when it comes to ID. So what are they. Please help
For viewing or photography right place right time is everything. I'd rather be in the right place with poor kit than have the best kit and be in the wrong place.
Hmmm... Waders aren't my strong point either so I consulted my Bird Bible (officially the RSPB handbook of British Birds). My money's on Spotted.
Their bills are longer and more slender than the standard model Redshank, with a very slight downward turn at the tip. They have a stronger eye stripe too, which you can just make out in the second picture. I think the one on the left is a juvenile - it has stronger spots and barring on the underside, which the adult lacks.
So I've learned something new today as well.
Good find!
L
Again, waders are not my strong point either but the photos are wonderful. Did you have a telephoto lens or did the birds allow you to get reasonably close? They certainly don't seem perturbed by your presence.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Thanks, A little of both is true, a good lens and a very good position.
Thanks Lucky This is what I think too, nice to get 2nd opinion.
Hi to All
My money is on spotted. Lucky has already given some good pointers, another give away is the beak on the redshank the upper and lower mandril have red in them where the spotted only has the red on the lower mandril. They also feed in a rather deliberate manner often in water that is deep enough that they occasionally have to swim.
Graham
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Unknown said: another give away is the beak on the redshank the upper and lower mandril have red in them where the spotted only has the red on the lower mandril.
another give away is the beak on the redshank the upper and lower mandril have red in them where the spotted only has the red on the lower mandril.
Now that's just the sort of thing that I'm more likely to remember next time I see any redshanks! Thanks Nestbox!
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The single bird is definitely a Spotted Redshank. The two birds are probably also Spotted Redshanks but the angle makes ID difficult. One good rule of thumb is the length of the bill. A redshank's bill is approx 1.5 X the width of the bird's head whereas the Spotted Redshank's bill is approx 2 X the width of the head. Also the feeding of the two species is different. The Redshank feeds rather sedately, walking around picking at it's food whilst the Spotted Redshank mover around much more quickly usually in deeper water than one would normally find Redshanks.
there have been larger than usual numbers of Spotted Redshanks at cCey this August with a peak count of 18 birds a couple of weeks ago
Thank you Rubecula and all others. The single shot is of the one on the right as it turned. Waders, not my best subject but I'm learning all the time.
Both birds in the top image are spotted redshanks - the left hand bird is a juvenile with its darker upper and underparts and heavy spotting. Juveniles are sometimes called 'dusky redshanks' due to this plumage.
Paul