Redshank looking for food in the shallow water

Last year in October, I visited a special spot with a lot of shallow water at the wetlands of the Inn River, this spot is only good when there was a bit of a higher water level in the past days so there is enough water for water birds to look for food there. When it is too dry it is much more difficult to encounter a water bird but other bird species there. The redshank is one of the bird of the Scolopacidae group that can be found there whenever there is enough water at the right time of the year. Since it is a bird that only can be found there during bird migration in spring or autumn.

Redshank looking for small insects in the "puddle of mud". Picture: Florian Glechner.

Since there can be found so many different birds during bird migration I am always excited which species I might encounter. And I always hope for the bit of extra luck to find a very seldom bird that visits only for a short time period, but this is always extremely difficult, eventhough I use an app where other birders like to monitor their discoveries. Since some of the migratory birds are only on a spot for a very short time period a lot of luck is involved.

Spots with only very little water and a lot of mud are perfect for the Redshank. Picture: Florian Glechner.

It is a wading bird that wades through the shallow water. Picture: Florian Glechner.

Due to my morning visit the light situation changed very fast after sunrise. Picture: Florian Glechner.