Redshanks are a regular winter visitor within the limits of the city of Hull, from mid September to mid April. They are distinctive birds, grey-brown above, and white below, with a white eye ring and bright red or orange legs and bill base, a long, straight bill and a characteristic broad white wing bar. They are quite vocal waders, especially when assembling to roost and when disturbed.
Around 3000 Redshanks winter on the mudflats of the Humber Estuary, a population of international importance. In smaller numbers, they can be found along the river Hull. Here, despite their wariness, they are more used to people walking on the riverbank, and they can be quite approachable.
One of the easiest spots to watch Redshanks is by the river at the Museums Quarter, especially at low tide, where I took these photos and videos. They seem oblivious to the heavy traffic noise of the A63, which crosses the river nearby.
The exposed banks of the river Hull by the museums quarter. The A63 and tidal barrier in the background.
Today I walked to the mouth of the River Hull almost at low tide. Five Redshanks were feeding scattered along the exposed shore of the river and docks. Occasionally one will fly on with much alarm calling, or individuals might have a dispute on who owns a patch of mud. If slightly nervous, they will stand quite upright and sharply bob their body up-and-down.
Finding food
Redshanks often feed just by the waters edge, walking in a steady, determined way, occasionally stopping to probe the mud with their bills. They feed on a range of tiny invertebrates, such as mud shrimps, small snails and clams and worms, and small fish.
A Redshank feeding on the river, probing the mud for invertebrates.
When the bill is completely inserted in the mud, the Redshank closes its eyes for protection.
Redshank on habitat.
Redshank bathing.
Roosting together
At high tide, Redshanks become more sociable and they roost in a group in a favoured, sheltered and undisturbed spot.
Eight of a group of 23 Redshank roosting at the back of the former Trinity House Buoy Shed building, 6/10/2020.
A roost of 13 Redshank at high tide with a Black-headed gull by the old mooring of the Arctic Corsair. 20/01/2020.
A flock of Dunlin a few Redshank and a Turnstone on the flood defence of Albert Dock, 5/2/2018.
Where do Hull Redshanks breed?
There are a few old records of Redshanks breeding on flooded fields at Bransholme and land by the docks at Saltend, but most Redshank will depart to more suitable habitats in the spring to breed. Ringing data indicates many Redshanks around the Humber breed in Iceland, together with local birds breeding around the UK. Individuals are site faithful and they will migrate repeatedly to particular patches.
Redshanks are a bird of conservation concern
Redshank are regarded as AMBER in the Birds of Conservation Concern list due to recent breeding and wintering population declines, and the fact that the UK holds an important non-breeding population. Management of the wintering population in the Hull area should include maintaining or providing suitable, undisturbed roosting sites along the river banks and Humber flood defences. Redshank needs for available mud at low tide should be taken into account in any infrastructure projects that could increase disturbance and or modify availability of the mudflats of the Humber or the River Hull.
Redshanks are a regular winter visitor within the limits of the city of Hull, from mid September to mid April. They are distinctive birds, grey-brown above, and white below, with a white eye ring and bright red or orange legs and bill base, a long, straight bill and a characteristic broad white wing bar. They are quite vocal waders, especially when assembling to roost and when disturbed.
No comments:
Post a Comment