The Common Redshank is a common and widespread winter visitor and passage migrant in our area. It arrives from August and most birds have departed by May, although it is not uncommon for a few, presumably first year, birds to oversummer. It breeds in western Europe, across central Asia and also in Kashmir. Some of our birds appear to be of the greyer eastern race. It occurs in scattered flocks of up to 50 on the major wetlands and in smaller numbers on many village ponds. It mixes readily with other waders and its loud, rather frenetic and frequently uttered “twe lee uu” call is often the alarm first heeded by other waders when intrusion threatens. Indeed in Britain it used to be known as ‘the Sentinel of the Marshes’.

It favours open shallowly flooded marshes with some aquatic vegetation. Although it can swim it does so less frequently than its Spotted cousin and prefers to feed on mud or in very shallow water. Apart from its call the easiest way to identify Common Redshanks is in flight when they show their broad white wing bars and white rump and back. At rest, the legs and most of the bill are orangey-red. There is little plumage change for the breeding season but the upperparts become darker and browner with heavier blotches.