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Birds
The
following identification guide covers some of the waders you are
likely to find on Irish wetlands, between 25-25 species visit our
wetlands each winter. Also included is the Little Egret that is strictly a Heron, but is
being seen more and more on estuaries with waders around the
country.
Note: All
lengths below are from the tip of the beak to the tip of the tail.
The beak lengths on waders can be very long, so bear this in mind
when comparing size.
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Oystercatcher (Roilleach)
Length 39-44 cm
One of the easiest waders to identify. It is black and white, with
pink legs and an orange beak. It can be found almost anywhere from
mudflats to rocky shore and fields. Often very noisy and rarely
seen alone.
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Curlew (Crotach)
Length 48-57 cm
If you get a good look at its long curved beak of this bird, you
will not mistake it for any other Irish wader. It has one of the
longest beaks of any Irish bird. On the ground it looks all brown,
but in flight there is a white triangle on the back.
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Dunlin (Breacóg)
Length 17-21 cm
One of our smallest waders. Usually seen in flocks of 100 or more,
and sometimes as many as 5,000 or more. Thin white stripe on the
wing. Black patch on the belly in summer plumage.
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Sanderling (Laidhrín geal)
Length 18 - 21 cm
A small wader, about the same size as a Dunlin. Looks very pale in
winter with black legs and beak. Usually seen in small flocks on
sandy beaches, running very quickly following the waves in and out
while feeding. In flight the wings are dark with a long white wing
stripe.
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Redshank (Ladhrán trá)
Length 24-27 cm
A wader with long red/orange legs. The straight beak is also
red/orange with a dark tip. Usually very noisy when taking off. In
flight, you can see a broad white trailing edge to the wings, and a
white triangle on the back. When alarmed it will bob its head up
and down.
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Turnstone (Piardálaí trá)
Length 21-24 cm
A small wader. Usually seen in small flocks. In flight, it has a
complex pattern of white and dark brown above, white below, with a
dark "bib". Orange legs. Can be quite tame. Usually found on rocky
shores but also on seaweed on the high tide line, and on fishing
piers where it feeds on fish scraps. Gets its name from its unusual
feeding habit of turning over stones to look for food with its
short dark wedge shaped beak. Also turns over seaweed.
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Little Egret
Length 55-65 cm
In the last twenty years, this small heron has gone from a national
rarity to a regular feature on many estuaries, and has bred in the
last few years in increasing numbers. May only be superficially
confused with a Black-headed Gull at a distance. This pure white
heron also has a straight black dagger shaped beak, long black legs
with bright yellow feet. Unlike its cousin, the Grey Heron, it
often feeds by running after the small fish and crustaceans that it
hunts in shallow water. It also shuffles its feet to disturb prey
that may be hiding under seaweed or staying very still.
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Greenshank (Laidhrín glas)
Length 30-34 cm
Like the Redshank it gets its name from the colour of its legs.
They are dull olive green. The beak is slightly up turned and is
slightly bigger than a Redshank. It is also much paler than a
Redshank in winter. Unlike the redshank its wings have no white on
the trailing edge. Its rump and tail form a large pale triangle
visible in flight.
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Snipe (Mionnán aeir)
Length 23-28 cm
A small wader with a long straight beak. Rarely seen in the open.
Its clever camouflage makes it very difficult to find on the
ground. Usually only seen when disturbed from wet ground or boggy
areas. Flies fast in a zigzag movement when taking off and usually
makes a harsh dry call. Once high up in the air it flies fast and
straight.
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Lapwing (Pilibín)
Length 28-31cm
One of our most numerous waders and also the one with one of the
most distinctive sillhouttes. The tuft of feathers standing up at
the back if its head is distinctive. Often seen in large flocks,
these waders have very round black and white wings and a short
beak. Large numbers come here during cold snaps on the continent
when flocks of over 10,000 have been seen. It is a member of the
plover family and is sometimes referred to as the Green Plover
because of the green sheen on feathers of the back and wings or the
Peewit, describing is squeaking call.
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Black-tailed Godwit (Guilbneach earrdubh)
Length 37-42 cm
A large wader with long legs and a long straight beak. On the
ground in winter they are brown above and on the breast and the
belly is white. In spring, summer and autumn they become rusty
red-orange below. In flight the have a broad black band on the end
of a white tail and bright white stripes on the wings. Rarely seen
alone, Black-tailed Godwits can be found on estuaries and in
fields. Most are seen on the south and east coast. Large numbers
gather in early spring in the Little Brosna Callows and the Shannon
& Fergus estuary before heading for Iceland where they
breed.
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Bar-tailed Godwit (Guilbneach stríocearrach)
Length 33-41 cm
A large wader. In flight it looks like a small Curlew, with a
white triangle on the back, a long, very slightly upturned beak and
no other obvious features. Similar to the Black-tailed Godwit in
size and appearance on the ground but is more streaked on the back.
Unlike the Black-tailed Godwit it usually prefers sandier, open
beaches.
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Ringed Plover (Feadóg an Fháinne)
Length 17 - 19 cm
A very distinctive wader with its complete white collar, sandy
brown back, black and white head pattern and orange legs. Often
feeds away from the waters edge, further up the beach or mudflat.
Like many plovers the Ringed Plover often uses a stop-run-peck
feeding pattern. Usually nests on sand and shingle where it is
difficult to locate and pretends to have a broken wing to distract
you from finding the nest and then flies off when you are far
enough away from the nest.
Grey Plover (Feadóg ghlas)
Length 26-29 cm
A fairly big wader with long dark legs and short thick beak.
Usually seen in small groups well spread out over the mud or sand.
Its large eyes help it locate its food on or just below the surface
of the mud or sand. As the name suggests in winter it is a very
grey wader on the ground. In flight you can see its white rump and
wing stripe. Unlike any other wader it has black "arm pits". These
feathers are called the axillaries and are found at the base of the
underwing, seen clearly in flight. In summer, like its close
relative the Golden Plover, it has a black face, breast and belly.
Unlike the Grey Plover the Golden Plover is usually seen in large
flocks and prefers to feed in fields.
All images and text © Jim Wilson 2001.
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