In May moorland birds claim their territories and defend and guard them if intruders venture too near. To survey their territory these landowners often perch on hills, rocks or fence poles to get a better view.
In the lowlands in South Iceland fence poles are popular for these observations and used a lot by Black-Tailed Godwits, Common Snipes and Redshanks.
It is the time of year when the Redshank is most noticeable. They often sit on fence poles calling loudly. The reason for this is that the chicks are out of the nest and hopping around within their territory.
With its bright orange feet the Redshank stands out and makes it easy to spot. It is usually a migratory bird in Iceland but a few stay for the winter. The Redshank is a wader and can be seen throughout the country, mostly near lakes and streams, and of course by the seaside. – We have to wait until April to hear the shrill call of the Redshank again.