Page 33 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WETLANDS

RESERVOIRS AND LAKES
Huge numbers of water birds penetrate far inland to WILDFOWL BONANZA
take advantage of lakes, which add variety to birdlife in Lowland reservoirs have great
otherwise dry areas. Reservoirs with natural shores are concentrations of wildfowl. In
excellent, especially if the water level falls, as the mud winter, huge roosts of gulls
attracts migrant waders. Flooded gravel workings have appear as lakes freeze over.
steep shores and so few waders, but are ideal for ducks.
The dragonflies found there are food for Hobbies.

LITTLE EGRET
With a changing climate,
this egret has spread
north in western
Europe. It is
attracted to lakes
and open shores.
ADAPTATIONS floating vegetation. Coots
Fine mesh located at the sides of their bills allow and grebes have long, lobed
dabbling ducks to sieve seeds from water.They skim toes, which aid propulsion
their opened beaks across the surface to take in water when they are in water.
before filtering it. The uniquely flattened and
The distinctively round-tipped bill of the flattened
bill tip
long toes of Egrets, Spoonbill sweeps sideways, half-
Moorhens, and open, through the shallow
Bitterns spread their water, until it touches a fish. It
weight and support then quickly snaps its bill shut
them as they walk on in order to feed. SPOONBILL
DABBLING TEAL
WHERE TO WATCH
1 LAKE MYVATN, 4 CAMARGUE, 7 DANUBE DELTA,
ICELAND FRANCE ROMANIA
This northern lake sees an A huge southern delta complex This magnificent, huge wetland
abundance of birds including full of rice fields and lagoons – complex, leading to the Black Sea,
Common Scoters, Long-tailed breeding sites for egrets, herons, is a vital habitat for Dalmatian and
Ducks, Wigeon, Barrow’s Greater Flamingos, and Avocets. White Pelicans and Pygmy LITTLE EGRET
Goldeneyes, Harlequin Cormorants. There is also an 8 PORTO LAGO,
Ducks, Red-necked Phalaropes, abundance of herons, egrets, GREECE
Whooper Swans, and Ptarmigan. spoonbills, Glossy Ibises, Black-
Tailed Godwits, Whiskered Terns, This lake and coastal marsh attracts
2 OUSE WASHES,UK Penduline Tits, Red-footed Falcons, Dalmatian and White Pelicans,
and White-tailed Great White and Little Egrets, and
This is made up of pools and low- Eagles here. a host of other wetland birds.
lying grassy fields that often flood. 1
Breeding birds include Snipe and GREATER FLAMINGOS
Black-tailed Godwit; migrant Wetland areas
waders and terns are frequent; and 5 ALBUFERA MARSHES,
in winter there are Wigeon, Pintail, MAJORCA
and Bewick’s and Whooper Swans. This large reedbed with small open
lagoons and ditches is an excellent
3 COTO DOÑANA, place in summer for Great Reed 2
SPAIN and Moustached Warblers and
Eleonora’s Falcons.
This vast coastal wetland sees
Spanish Imperial Eagles, Black Kites,
White Storks, Little and Cattle 6 NEUSIEDLER SEE, 6
Egrets, Purple and Night Herons, AUSTRIA 4
Black-Winged Stilts, Avocets, Ruffs, A lake and reedy marsh complex, 3 7
Spoonbills, and Whiskered Terns this area has a great variety of 5
as well as an abundance of waders, egrets, herons, Little Bitterns, 8
ducks, and geese throughout Whiskered Terns, Ferruginous
the winter months. Ducks, and River Warblers.
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