Page 34 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

INTRODUCTION

ESTUARIES AND LOW-LYING COASTS

river broadening towards the sea deposits mud and
Asilt over vast areas that are exposed at low tide.The
sides of such an estuary and other stretches of soft coast
consolidate into salt marshes, where muddy creeks
wind through green swards of salt-tolerant vegetation.
Sand dunes, shingle spits, shell banks, and sand or pebble
beaches all provide habitats for birds on low-lying shores.

ESTUARIES
A muddy estuary is an excellent
source of food for numerous birds
as fish, tiny snails, worms, shellfish, FLOCKING TO THE BEACH
and other invertebrates are very Black-headed Gulls find safe refuge on offshore bars
abundant.The twice-daily flow of and beaches, resting between feeding sessions.
the tides also enriches the inter-
tidal mud and sand with nutrients. SAND AND SHINGLE
Birds from vast areas of northern SLAVONIAN Harder beaches, which are made up of
Europe and Asia rely on such estuaries GREBE sand and gravel, are not as good as soft
from autumn right through to late spring Grebes breed on mud for long-billed, probing waders.
as they rarely freeze over. During those freshwater lakes but However, these beaches are used by
seasons swimmers, divers, waders, probers, move to the sea in the short-billed waders, such as plovers,
and aerial feeders all exploit the food that autumn. Slavonian that can pick food from the surface
Grebes, such as this one
is to be found in the mud, sand, and in its winter plumage, or from between stones. Seaweed and
shallow water. In the summertime, gulls, can often be seen other debris washed up at high tide
terns, ducks, larks, and pipits also breed on drifting into an estuary form a “tidewrack” or strandline, along
the firmer salt marshes that are situated all with the rising tide. which other birds, including some land
the way around the edge of an estuary. birds such as Starlings, can feed on tiny
sand hoppers and other
DUNES AND
LAGOONS small creatures.
Sand consolidates into tall,
grassy dunes with damp
hollows ideal for waders,
Skylarks, and Meadow
Pipits. Shallow lagoons
above high tides offer
feeding areas for gulls,
Shelducks, and Ringed SWEEPING AVOCET
Plovers, while dry sand An Avocet sweeps its upcurved bill
spits are nest sites for sideways through shallow water,
terns and waders. catching tiny crustaceans.

SALTMARSH RICHES
Large marshes have an abundance of salt-
tolerant plants that attract insects, so are full of
food for birds. Redshanks, Black-headed Gulls,
and Mallards nest in these places in summer.

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