Focus on birds 15/3/14
Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
The Dipper is a small rotund bird which is most often seen on rocks at the edge of Loch Rannoch. Like many small water birds it constantly dips up and down on its legs. It may be that this action helps it to see enter in the watery environment. The Grey Wagtail and Common Sandpiper do the same. The Dipper is dark brown in colour with a very conspicuous white front. It feeds on small invertebrates which it catches under water. The really amazing thing is that it flies under water with its wings half open. The wings are short to allow them to be used as flippers and as a result the Dippers has to have a fast, direct flight. There is no soaring for the Dipper!
It has a high pitched call and song and this characteristic is something that it has in common with other birds living near water such as the Kingfisher. The flowing water produces a lot of white noise which masks many sounds however high pitched sounds fair better than most.
Dippers have nasal flaps that prevent water from flowing into their nostrils and they have unusually high levels of haemoglobin in their blood which let's them stay under water longer. They have longish legs and very strong claws for gripping onto sloppy rocks.
Dippers are found all around Loch Rannoch and up the burns that flow into it. They are present in Rannoch throughout the year but may be joined by migrants in the winter. A lot of their food consists of aquatic insects larvae such as stonefly larvae, dragonfly larvae, mayfly larvae, caddis fly larvae and freshwater shrimps. Many of these are found underneath the rocks in shallow water at the edge of the loch or in the burns and are eaten underwater. Dippers nest in crevices in rocks and often use the stonework under stone bridges. Their nest is a neat dome shape which is lined with moss for comfort.