Specie's Page                                               Ruff - Small Waders

Ruff:

UK Status: Resident in the summer months, with only 13 breeding females.

Habitat: This bird when not breeding prefers a wide variety of shallow wetlands, but when nesting prefers dryer areas with sedges and low growing scrub.

Breeding: This bird nests in a scrape on the ground, in well concealed places. The nest is usually lined with grass, reeds, stems or other foliage. Females usually lay four eggs per clutch, and are only incubated by the female. Eggs are very ovular in shape, and are pale to olive brown, and they are marked with darker blotches mainly at the broad end.

Comment: During the late summer and early winter there can be up to a thousand Ruff on British shores. This happens pass they pass through from their breeding grounds in Scandinavia, on their way to Africa. Numbers may increase due to conservation programs that are captive breeding them, for release into the wild.

BE AWARE PLEASE:  Ground nesting birds are very vulnerable to having their eggs and chicks smashed or crushed. This can happen when people are unaware of their presence, or when dogs are allowed to run loose during the breeding season. Nests are very well hidden, and are not usually spotted until it's to late. Dogs often have no concern for ground nesting birds, please keep them on their leads from April through to the end of September.