BIRD 6

White trailing band Long red legs and feet We end with another wader, as betrayed by the medium-long straight bill, which is wide open, shouting out the ‘song’ and the long pointed wings. The slim neat bill and straight bill imply this is a Tringa sandpiper. And there are lots of ID pointers which make specific identification straightforward. Firstly, the overall plumage is brown streaks and spots on a white background. Then, you will notice the long red legs, with feet protruding beyond the tail (which in Tringa terms, narrows it down to Redshank or Spotted Redshank). The bill base of both mandibles is red and the wings show a translucency in the trailing quarter, implying a broad white band there on the upper surface. This can only be a Redshank.

KEY FEATURES †Mid-long, straight bill and long wings imply this is a wader †Overall brown plumage, with heavily streaking on white †Long red legs and feet protrude beyond tail †Red bill base and broad white trailing edge diagnostic