Curlew Sandpiper
Scientific Name: Calidris ferrugineaMaltese Name: Pispisella Hamra
Family: Waders (Scolopacidae)
Occurence: Regular
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Curlew Sandpiper is similar to a Little Stint in size, in summer it has dark reddish plumage while in autumn, birds are paler with a white belly and pale buff breast. As it name implies, it has a long, slim, slightly curved bill. They tend to wade more than Dunlins. Like other waders it probes and picks from the shoreline and water edge taking earthworms, crustaceans and molluscs and other aquatic creatures. It has a soft trilling chiirrr-up call. To nest, it simply makes a shallow scrape on ground laying 4 eggs. Curlew Sandpipers breed in the high arctic region and migrate to Africa for the winter. Is normally seen in small family groups and are known to live up to 10 years.
Status:
Regular migrant; common in spring while scarcer in autumn.
When to See:
In spring is recorded from end of March until end of May. It reappears again in autumn from as early as mid-July until November.
Where to See:
Best site is definitely Ghadira Nature Reserve supporting its best habitat. Up to 15 or more may be present here on some days. Otherwise Salina and Simar Nature Reserve are ideal. It is also recorded along the coast migrating in singles or small flocks.
Photographs:
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Curlew Sandpiper, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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Curlew Sandpipers, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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Curlew Sandpipers, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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