PC082428-En -e1s
Adult Turnstones - Arenaria interpres - winter plumage
Lochcarron fore-shore intertidal zone.
There were four at this location, they allowed me to stalk close to them before flight. Hard to see with the strong light behind them caused them to be silhouetted to the human eye.
Turnstones are medium-sized sandpipers of rocky shores and gravel beaches. Although they don't breed here, they can be seen throughout the year as birds from northern Europe pass through in summer and again in spring, and birds from Canada and Greenland arrive in early autumn and leave in early summer. Turnstones - so-named for their habit of flipping over large stones for insects, crustaceans and molluscs. They can be spotted creeping and fluttering about the rocks, looking for food underneath them.
In winter, the Turnstone is dark brown above, with a black pattern on the face and breast, a white chin and white belly. The legs are orange/ red and the beaks are short. During summer, adults have a colourful, chestnut- and black-chequered pattern on the back. When they fly, Turnstones show a white patch on the back, broad, white wingbars, and white patches at the base of the tail.
A common winter visitor to our coasts. Small numbers may be found all the year round.
PC082428-En -e1s
Adult Turnstones - Arenaria interpres - winter plumage
Lochcarron fore-shore intertidal zone.
There were four at this location, they allowed me to stalk close to them before flight. Hard to see with the strong light behind them caused them to be silhouetted to the human eye.
Turnstones are medium-sized sandpipers of rocky shores and gravel beaches. Although they don't breed here, they can be seen throughout the year as birds from northern Europe pass through in summer and again in spring, and birds from Canada and Greenland arrive in early autumn and leave in early summer. Turnstones - so-named for their habit of flipping over large stones for insects, crustaceans and molluscs. They can be spotted creeping and fluttering about the rocks, looking for food underneath them.
In winter, the Turnstone is dark brown above, with a black pattern on the face and breast, a white chin and white belly. The legs are orange/ red and the beaks are short. During summer, adults have a colourful, chestnut- and black-chequered pattern on the back. When they fly, Turnstones show a white patch on the back, broad, white wingbars, and white patches at the base of the tail.
A common winter visitor to our coasts. Small numbers may be found all the year round.