Wading birds - Identification and where to spot them
Wading Birds
What are Wading birds?
Waders are birds that wade in and feed on shorelines. Some birds wade in shallow water, while others feed on rocky shores. Waders generally have long legs and bills which enable them to forage for food in deep, moving waters. They also usually have long toes that help them balance steadily in silt, sand and mud. Some waders, such as Herons have powerful neck muscles which they use to spear fish.Where to spot Waders?
Waders are best spotted along coastal shorelines, marshes, inland lagoons, reservoirs, lakes, rivers and estuaries. Rising tide is the best time to spot waders on coastal shorelines. At low tide, the shore can be so vast it disperses the birds and by high tide many birds will have cut their losses and returned to their roosts. As most waders are migratory it’s worth investing in a good field guide to get the most out of spotting them.Are Waders in decline?
Sadly, according to studies, wader populations are in decline. The most effected species include Ringed plovers whose numbers have fallen by 39% in 10 years, while the Redshank have dropped by 26% and the Dunlin have dropped by 23%. Conservationists, cite climate change as the main factor for these declines. As many species of Wader migrate to the UK from northern climes, fewer young waders may be being successfully reared in their rapidly warming Arctic breeding grounds.Five Types of Wader to spot
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Coot and Moorhen
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Curlew
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Grey Plover
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Bar -Tailed Godwit
13th Jan 2020
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