Sunday, August 5, 2012

Just Dunlin

No birding or ringing this morning, just a lazy lie in. After lunch Sue and I went up to Knott End for a Wallings Ice Cream followed by a walk. 

The usual birds along the beach and river, 2 Eider, 2 Pied Wagtail, 280 Oystercatcher, a couple of Curlew and then 18 raucous Sandwich Terns which flew off south as the tide shifted them off the beach. A flock of about 40 Dunlin on the beach flew up river where I managed to get a number of photographs. Almost every one of them was an adult, all in a various stages of moult which can be seen from the pictures below – all very interesting for students of wader moult out there. No more comment from me, just enjoy the Dunlin. 

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin
Dunlin

Dunlin

 Dunlin

 Dunlin

18 comments:

Isidro Ortiz said...

Magnificas fotos del Correlimos comun.Saludos

theconstantwalker said...

Wonderful images..

Pete Woodruff said...

Hard to believe the various stages of moult in a bird species on the same day until you see the evidence in images like this Phil....interesting.

joanne said...

Oh those raucous terns....After studying the photos I saw how lovely their feathering is, and colorful...nice

Anni said...

Aren't these remarkable birds? I love the dappled look and colors of these tiny/ yet stately birds.

And your photos show some great coloration and markings.

Thanks for linking up at the Bird D'Pot this week.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Oh ice cream does sound so yummy to me right now, and glad that you and Sue had time to savor the sweetness of the day a bit.
Those Dunlins in flight, the Dunlins on the shore, whoosh Phil, they are all so vivid in colouration and they seemed to be posing right your way...absolutely stunning!

Gail Dixon said...

Beautiful images. Partial to the one of them in flight.

Choy Wai Mun said...

Phil, you don't know what I would give to be able to enjoy Dunlins in Malaysia because this species is just so rare here. Great images by the way.

Modesto Viegas said...

Very good photos, nice bird!

Larry said...

Awesome photos of the Dunlins Phil. Their plumage patterns are just amazing. The in flight photo exceptionally beautiful!

Russell Jenkins said...

I'm afraid I'm not good enough to be enrolled as a student of waders. Their tones are beautiful but camouflaged well in my mind. You must be happy with that first flight shot. It's really beautiful and captures a variety of tones. Nice job.

Stewart M said...

They are nice little birds!

No, I don't think I'd being using the wet suit near the signs - although people seem not to understand that crocs hang around places like boat ramps and such like waiting for fish frames and such like.

In the summer many people wear "stinger suits" to lycra (?) to protect from the stingers- and although I did not show it there is a bottle of white vinegar by each sign to throw on people who get stung - the acid neutralises the venom.

Cheers - Stewart M

Bob Bushell said...

Beautiful series of Dunlin.

mick said...

Great photos of the Dunlins and very interesting to see all the moult stages.

eileeninmd said...

Phil, they are more than "JUST" Dunlins. They are beautiful Dunlins. Your photos are awesome!

Findlay Wilde said...

These are lovely Dunlin poctures, I saw some on my last trip to Anglesey.

Hilke Breder said...

The Dunlins are striking - great images!

Stuart Price said...

Well it's that time of year, can't wait for the waders to start passing through (should be in the next few days here in Hokkaido).

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