Waders are tricky to identify, especially in the winter when their plumage is drab, camouflage being the name of the game rather than finding a mate. Also in autumn and winter, hundreds of thousands of birds from colder climes come to feed on our shores alongside our resident birds. But one wader that is pretty easy to ID is the turnstone. Partially because their plumage is quite distinctive, even in winter (orange legs and a dark bib), but also because they do what it says on the tin. You see them wandering around on the shoreline flipping over stones and seaweed to get at any invertebrate food that is hiding beneath. I enjoyed watching this flock feeding away on Eyemouth beach this afternoon.
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