Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank / tringa nebularia. 21/08/19.
'AN EYE TO THE SKY.'
I love watching the comical antics of Greenshanks when they're feeding. Always hyper-active, but becoming particularly energetic when they chase prey around in the shallows. There's usually plenty of high stepping and wing flexing - like they've been electrocuted or trodden on hot coals.
It seems these frenzied bursts of feeding take their toll on the birds' reserves though. I've noticed that just as quickly as they start, so they stop abruptly. A bird will suddenly break from it's feeding rhythm, dash somewhere and flop down to rest.
This one had found a nice sunny bank to doze on though regularly opened an eye to monitor things around it. Occasionally with a tilt of it's head as shown here, it would check the sky for predators.
Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank / tringa nebularia. 21/08/19.
'AN EYE TO THE SKY.'
I love watching the comical antics of Greenshanks when they're feeding. Always hyper-active, but becoming particularly energetic when they chase prey around in the shallows. There's usually plenty of high stepping and wing flexing - like they've been electrocuted or trodden on hot coals.
It seems these frenzied bursts of feeding take their toll on the birds' reserves though. I've noticed that just as quickly as they start, so they stop abruptly. A bird will suddenly break from it's feeding rhythm, dash somewhere and flop down to rest.
This one had found a nice sunny bank to doze on though regularly opened an eye to monitor things around it. Occasionally with a tilt of it's head as shown here, it would check the sky for predators.