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It rained continuously throughout the day and a dark cloud darkened our surroundings prematurely as we made our way to the hide at Kilnsea Wetland. The field in front of us was flooded and lacked color, but contrary to the winter drabness, there were 150 redshanks feeding in a remarkable manner along the shallow waters.

The form and size of Redshanks falls in the middle of the spectrum between the larger Curlew and smaller Dunlin. When observed up close, the elegant patterns on the back and wings become apparent, with each feather edge neatly bordered in black. The throat and chest also display intricate bars.

However, regardless of the distance, the intricacies vanish and their top feathers appear to be muddy brown. The only distinctive characteristic to note, aside from their falsely named orange legs, is their even more prominent and persistent three or four-note flute-like call.

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The species is characterized by a consistently anxious personality, as evidenced by its distinct vocalization. The bird’s call serves as a means of sounding the alarm, behaving almost like an alarmist. It should be noted that this delicate neurotic is vulnerable to numerous predators, ranging from weasels to peregrine falcons. Previously known as “watcher of the marshes”, they are often the first to sense danger and depart, sometimes causing others to do the same. When they finally return, they land cautiously, pausing to pull back their heads, and emit their signature call, indicating their readiness for possible chaos.

Tonight, they quickly ran across the wet ground, searching and digging, changing direction as they went, capturing small creatures. Their movements were synchronized with the sound of the pouring rain. In the midst of the darkness, I noticed a quality of redshanks that is often missed. They are skilled hunters, using their sharp, sensitive bills to detect even the slightest movement of underground worms.

The most remarkable sight was witnessing a large number of redshanks, teetering between their roles as both prey and predator, showcasing their intense energy during the transition between day and night. The vibrant color of their legs added to the dynamic movements as the day came to a close.

Source: theguardian.com