Redshank

Scientific name: Tringa (a waterbird) totanus (from Italian totano for Redshank)

The Redshank is a medium-sized wader. Its grey-brown plumage is speckled and flecked with paler underparts. It has a white eye ring. The base of the longish bill and the legs are red. In flight, it is the only common wader that has broad white trailing edges on the upper wings.

Local habitats: Coastal, especially along many west coast locations including the Shingle Bank, Perqueries Bay and Pulias; also some of our wetland reserves such as the Vale Pond and La Claire Mare. The freshwater scrapes on the Colin Best Nature Reserve have good numbers over the winter, a scope or good binoculars are needed as the hide is some way away.

Diet: small crustaceans, molluscs, worms and other invertebrates

European Distribution: Somewhat patchy, mainly across Great Britain, central and northern Europe.

UK Conservation Status: Amber

Guernsey migration dates and breeding status: Redshank may be seen in Guernsey year round. Numbers increase during the autumn migration from late July and there is a small overwintering population. Redshank do not breed in Guernsey. Breeding is recorded on the south coast of England, the west coast of France and a few pairs breed in Normandy, so the Bailiwick does lie within its breeding range.

I have seen breeding behaviour in November. This is far too early for breeding to take place. W G Hale (The Redshank, Shire Publications) states that the first egg is laid within 30 hours of copulation. The earliest date for egg laying in this species in the UK is 14 April, and the average date is 1 May. I must have witnessed a pair rehearsing.The pair spent several minutes ‘parallel walking’ along the water’s edge, also known as the ground chase. The male appeared to be the darker bird although this would simply be a slight difference between the two individuals as the sexes cannot be distinguished. He then grasped the female on the nape of her neck, displaying his tail before copulation, when she crouched low in the shallow water.