Best time to see: mid Apr to mid Oct
Key facts
Small brown and white wader often seen bobbing its rear end
Habitat: freshwater marshes, estuaries and upland streams with shallow margins
Summer visitor to the UK, breeding in hill districts; passage migrant in Essex
Recognition
Brown upperparts, white underparts, short greenish legs; 20 cm
Often seen creeping along margins of freshwater areas; bobs rear end continuously
Eats insects, molluscs and crustaceans; flickering flight usually low over water, with twee-wee-wee call
Lifecycle
Range covers half the world, breeding in Europe and Asia and wintering in Africa and even Australia
Nest is a hollow on ground; one brood May to June; 4 buff eggs speckled brown
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© Alan Williams
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© Bill Varney