B57I2850-Dipper,-Cinclus-cinclus - a photo on Flickriver

            Dipper, Cinclus cinclus.
A medium-sized, plump bird, the dipper is often seen sitting on a stone in a river or stream, bobbing up and down and is the world’s only truly aquatic song-bird, the only one given to habitual total immersion as a way of life. Dippers are unusual in having completely feathered eyelids, which happen to be white, and when a bird blinks they are highly conspicuous. 
It can be found around fast-flowing streams and rivers, mostly in upland areas. It feeds on underwater invertebrates, such as Stone Fly and Caddis Fly larvae by walking straight into, and completely under, the water to find them and will sometimes bob to the surface and float on its belly with its  wings spread like oars.
Dippers have a third, transparent eyelid called a 'nictitating membrane' that they can close, enabling them to see underwater and has flaps over its nostrils that close when the bird is submerged.
Dippers hold a territory throughout the year and nests can be situated in a riverbank, on a rock-face ledge, or amongst tree-roots, but always very close to running water. The breeding season starts very early, with breeding territories maintained or established in January or February. 2-3 broods a year, usually 4 -5 eggs being laid with Incubation taking 15-18 days,  by the female alone. Most dippers, once they fledge, will disperse at least 2.5 km from their breeding site.
There are between 7,000 and 21,000 pairs breeding in Britain and despite fluctuations, the population is thought to be relatively stable.
   

Taken on: September 11, 2020

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