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Project Noah Nature School
Calidris alba.
These birds are often found running along the shoreline, in and out of the waves looking for food but when the tide is high making the beach stony or rocky they move into lagoons or onto mudflats.
Tidal lagoon on beach.
Spotted on Dec 22, 2011
Submitted on Feb 6, 2012
4 Comments
The Dunlins have been moved to a new spotting. When I checked my notes and original pictures I found that I had this one down as a Sanderling in the lagoon by the beach, but when I saved the pictures for uploading I labeled them Dunlin, must have had one too many!
Yes, two and six are the photos with Dunlins. I would suggest putting them in a separate spotting.
Hi Liam, Thanks for pointing this out. As I view it , I know that 1, 3, 4 & 5 are the same physical bird, the one with the brownish tinge, and I agree with your Sanderling for those. 2 with the greyish tinge and 6 with the two birds, probably one of each, but I am certain that the Greyish birds have the Dunlin bill! This is the first time I have come across many of the wading birds so I am struggling with the IDs and appreciate your help. I recall changing the picture order of these last night but did not see your comment. Interestingly the Sanderling exhibits a different behaviour on the mudflats to that on the beaches, I have not seen that mentioned in books, most of which do not show the winter plumage either. If you would please confirm that it is now 2 & 6 with the Dunlins I will amend the description.
The first and last photos are the only photos that have Dunlin (Calidris aplina) in them. The rest are all Sanderlings (Calidris alba).