Birdwatching

The only short legged wader whit a long upcurved bill.
In many ways, a particularly charismatic wader.


The TEREK SANDPIPER.


Attention is often first drawn by the amazingly actieve feeding habit of this bird, typically, It moves much faster than the calidris and tringa species among which It usually feeds, with abrupt changes of direction. In all the pale brownich grey upperparts, head and breast patches recall the smaller common sandpiper, but Terek is lager, deeper chested and paler , with conspicuous orangey legs and long, evenly upcurved bill.

At closer ranges, a blackish patch can be seen at the carpal joint of the folded wing and, for most the year, an irregular blackish line down the centre of each set of scapulars.
In flight, pattern of black grey, black white across the inner half of the wing is diagnostic, as is the combination of a bold white trailing edge and a grey rump and tail.
Only the tips of the toes protrude beyond the tail. Wingbeats are rather shallow and flicking.

Do have a look at the bare parts, the bill blackish, usually with a small area of dull orange at base, Iris brown, legs short, shoter than bill, bright orange or orange yellow, sometimes duller orange or greenihs yellow. If you here the voice , typical in flight note a sharp fluty twit wit wit wit, recalling common sandpiper, and whimbrel, each syllable rises slighly in pitch. Also xit a wit tuudu and softer hu hu hu? Alarm a sharper tu li, In display, a long melodious prerrr.....



The Terek breeds in May July along lagers rivers and shores of freshwater lakes of the USSR and FINLAND.
Winters manly on tropical coasts, especially muddy bays and estuariies .











Thats the bird to look for believe me....