Diet of breeding Lapwing Vanellus vanellus and Redshank Tringa totanus on coastal grazing marsh and implications for habitat management

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Capsule Management of coastal grazing marshes for these breeding wading birds should prescribe maintaining shallow pools in May and June instead of until the end of April as currently set out in most coastal grazing marsh ESA agri-environment schemes. Aims To determine the range of prey and most important components of the diet of breeding Lapwing and Redshank on coastal grazing marsh throughout the breeding season. Methods Prey were determined from remains in faeces and pellets. The contributions of these prey to the diet were estimated by multiplying selected prey remains by published correction factors and dry weights of intact prey. Results Adult Lapwing and chicks and adult Redshank fed on a wide range of soil, surface-active and aquatic invertebrates. Adult Redshank also fed on estuarine invertebrates. The proportion of aquatic invertebrates in the diet of both species increased as the breeding season progressed, while that of soil invertebrates decreased. Conclusion Aquatic invertebrates in shallow pools can be an important component of the diet of breeding Lapwing and Redshank in May and June, but most management of coastal grazing marsh set out in ESA agri-environment schemes only specifies retaining pools until the end of April. Proximity to estuaries might be important in influencing the suitability of coastal grazing marshes for breeding Redshank.