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page.Common Sandpiper
Tringa hypoleucos
The small and agile sandpiper inhabits all of Europe except Iceland. In July to September it migrates to winter quarters in the Mediterranean, sometimes in western Europe, but mainly in Africa as far south as Madagascar, returning again in mid-April to May. The species is found in swampy places and on the shores of lakes, ponds and rivers. As a rule, the birds arrive at their nesting grounds in pairs. The nest is a shallow depression in the ground, usually under overhanging plants near water, sometimes even on a substantial floating raft of vegetation, and possibly near a colony of gulls. The depression is lined with plant stalks and leaves. In May, (sometimes also in June or July if the first clutch has been accidentally destroyed), the female lays four eggs which are incubated mostly by the male, relieved occasionally by the hen. The young hatch after 21 to 23 days and leave the nest as soon as they are dry. Caring for the young devolves mainly on the male, who leads them to food and provides them with protection; the female is in attendance for only a few days. When they are a month old, the young begin to fly, after which they form small groups that may be seen in marshy locations near water or in shallows, where they gather food. The diet consists of various worms and crustaceans as well as insects and their larvae, spiders, centipedes and other small invertebrates.
Click on any of the other bird links, these are Geese Barnacle Goose : Brent Goose : Canada Goose : Greylag Goose
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And the rest, in no real order of importance: Common Sandpiper : Coot. : Corncrake : Curlew. : Dunlin : Greenshank : Lapwing : Moorhen : Oystercatcher : Redshank : Ringed Plover : Snipe : Spotted Crake : Stone Curlew : Turnstone : Whimbrel : Woodcock.
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