Redshank – lover of good clean mud
The Redshank, Tringa totanus, is a Eurasian wader. It’s classified as part of a large family called Scolopacidae. It’s related to the sandpipers, and also the woodcocks, curlews and snipes.
People describe Redshank as a medium-sized wader, but they’re actually a large sandpiper (bitter argument begins in the comments section).
It’s a bird of marshes, mudflats, mires and saltmarshes. Wherever there is clean mud, you’ll find them, industriously fossicking for invertebrates.
More Redshanks
Greenshank / Redshank I love getting a close view of a Redshank. They're such expert alarm-callers that they were refereed to as 'the… read more
Green fields and red legs Westray truly is the land of a million stabs. That's what the wooden fence posts are called here. They're perfect… read more
Watery Pleeps There's a Watery Pleeps overhead. At least that's what an Orcadian would call it. South it would be a Redshank… read more
The warden of the marshes There's a flypast at Knott End-on-Sea and this Redshank is one of three heading down the estuary. I love to… read more
The pool There's a rock pool fed with fresh water fram a tiny waterfall on the west coast of Westray. I love… read more
Redshank ballet and Ruddy Turnstones There's a Redshank on the rocks. I don't think it wants to fly away. That would mean getting its leg… read more
Redshanks at the Peedie Sea It's only a few minutes after dawn and there's a Redshank on the Peedie Sea. I can't quite believe it's… read more
The Third Ladybird Book of British Birds – #2 The Redshank Redshanks declined by 38% from 1995 to 2015. read more
Greenshanks and Redshanks Good weather is in short supply in February. A bright day is a rarity, so after a view of clear… read more