Green Sandpiper
Scientific Name: Tringa ochropusMaltese Name: Swejda
Family: Sandpipers (Scolopacidae)
Occurence: Regular
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Green Sandpiper has grey-brown upperparts, white underside, and dark cap with a pale line in front of eye. It has greenish legs. In flight has a big white rump with a white belly. When disturbed, it flies around in the sky, sometimes returning after in the same spot. It has a loud tllu-eet, weet-weet call! Like other sandpipers, it feeds by probing the water for insects and other small invertebrates. The Green Sandpiper has different breeding habits from most other waders as it breeds in forests. It lays 2-4 eggs in an old tree nest of another species, such as a Fieldfare. Some winter in central European countries while most birds winter in Northern Africa.
Status:
Regular migrant. Seen both in singles and in small flocks.
When to See:
One of the first migrant to appear, both in autumn and spring migration. Spring; from February until late April. Autumn; from July until October.
Where to See:
Is attracted to small ponds and freshwater streams. It is often recorded in valleys like Ghajn Rihana and Wied is-Sewda amongst others where water ponds occur. Otherwise Simar and Ghadira Nature Reserves are very suitable. Can be seen flying over from anywhere.
Photographs:
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Green Sandpiper, Simar Nature Reserve |
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| Green Sandpiper, Simar Nature Reserve | Feeding Green Sandpiper, Simar Nature Reserve |
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