Dunlin

[Martin Scott]

One particualrly large, long billed Dunlin on Loch Barvas, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland tonight. Note the clean cut line of demarcation where belly patch meets breast and also the very pale grey nape and face. Much whiter rear underaprts and breast streaking also much finer. Schinzii breeds here in numbers, to big and pale for alpina? arctica is (usually smaller) and shorter billed.

Recent note in Birding World discusses autumn hudsonia Dunlin. How do you do them in spring?

Scant information in Shorebirds suggest some of the above features may suit this form see plate 84h on page 205 and note demarcated belly patch and broader fringes to upper parts, etc. How accurate is this plate?

I have posted two shots on the ID Discussion page.

Martin

[AndyB]

Link to Martin's photos here (http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/gallery/display.cgi?gallery=gallery28)

A search through Google images does seem to show, on average on nearctic birds, brighter, rustier upperparts (smaller black centres to upperpart feathers), paler breast, neck and face with less heavy streaking (in addition to the longer bill):

Here are some typical looking bright nearctic birds:
http://www.hoganphoto.com/Dunlin.jpg
http://www.birdsasart.com/bn123.htm
http://www.jeaniron.ca/Shorebirds/2006/dunlin1478.jpg
http://www.focusonnature.com/Birdli178.jpg
http://www.hgbirder.org/images/1024-dunlin.JPG

However, here's a Norwegian Dunlin that perhaps shares some plumage features
http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/dunlin:calidris-alpina-photo-378.html

and here's a quite long-billed European bird from the Surfbirds galleries:
http://www.surfbirds.com/media/gallery_photos/20041011115531.jpg
Dunlin, Sweden, land October 2004 © Stefan Oscarsson

More photos from galleries showing 2 nearctic and 2 european birds
http://www.surfbirds.com/media/gallery_photos/20060523065510.JPG
Dunlin, Cook Co., Illinois, Montrose Beach, Chicago 5-23-06 © Kanae Hirabayashi

http://www.surfbirds.com/media/gallery_photos/20060519070846.jpg
Dunlin, Weld County, CO 05/19/06 © Glenn Walbek

http://www.surfbirds.com/media/gallery_photos/20050514050820.JPG
Dunlin, Glamorgan, Ogmore Estuary 14/05/05 © Paul Roberts

http://www.surfbirds.com/media/gallery_photos/20050518020249.jpg
Dunlin, Glamorgan, Kenfig NNR, rivermouth 14 May 2005 © David Carrington

[REDBACKEDSHRIKE66]

:certifiable:My books say its a variation from 'north fenno-scandia' !:certifiable: