Dunlin (Calidris alpina) Covenham - 18 Sep

Freddy Johnson · **Posted:** Mon Sep 19, 2011 10:20 am

A group of us watching the American Black Tern at Covenham yesterday (18 Sep) commented on a Dunlin pattering past at the water's edge - extremely tame and with a noticeably longer and more decurved bill than the Dunlin we regularly see. As Dean Eades commented, "It's massive". A number of photographs were taken of the bird.

Following the arrival in the UK of numbers of wind-blown American birds in the wake of the W/SW blowing remnants of the recent hurricane and in view of the Covenham

a.confirmed Yank - American Black Tern

b.(apparently) questioned Yanks - 2 x Red-necked Grebes

might the Dunlin's race also be worth investigating ? or were we all "Yank-struck" ?

Freddy

Chris Grimshaw · **Posted:** Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:04 pm

It was Hurricane Katia last Monday Freddy. Irene blew herself out over Canada a week or so before Katia arrived just as did Hurricane Maria just a couple of days ago

Several people commented on the dunlin (it will be interesting to see any photos) - I didn't see a wader in my time at Covenham yesterday

Don Davis · **Posted:** Mon Sep 19, 2011 1:03 pm

hi Chris i posted pic on 17-9-11 Don.

Freddy Johnson · **Posted:** Mon Sep 19, 2011 4:22 pm

.....but see also :

BirdGuides.. Lincs
'View all pictures from Lincolnshire' - Dunlin, Lincs 17/09/11 (2 pictures - Gordon Bowes)

which appears to be a different bird from Don's and looks like the one commented on.

Freddy

Phil Hyde · **Posted:** Mon Sep 19, 2011 6:38 pm

As I was leaving on Sunday, I passed Tony Prater (of "Shorebirds" fame). I asked him to have a look at the Dunlin out of curiosity to see if it was racially identifiable. Did he pass anything on to Graham C or John Clarkson, among others, who were still watching it when I left ?

Phil

John Clarkson · **Posted:** Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:56 pm

The Dunlin we were watching was rather large and very long billed possibly beyond the range of sub-sp alpina and in the context of other birds around maybe suggestive of one of the American sub-sp - hudsonia or even pacifica. But for my part this is mere conjecture. I'm no expert and await the response of wise men

John

Jayne Eames · **Posted:** Tue Sep 20, 2011 1:03 am

Interesting! At Gib on sunday morning there was a small flock of Dunlin on the Mere one of which was slightly bigger and with a longer more curved bill that the others. Might be worth another look.

Anthony Bentley · **Posted:** Tue Sep 20, 2011 1:08 pm

I have just uploaded an image of the bird in discussion birds. It isn't the best photo but does show the beaks lengh and curve.

Edmund Mackrill · **Posted:** Tue Sep 20, 2011 8:16 pm

Anthony - for what it's worth, your discussion bird looks like a normal juv alpina race Dunlin to me.
However, it's the plumage of the upper two Dunlin/Curlew Sand hybrids!! in Russ Telfer's photo that I can't get my head around. An odd combination of unmarked underparts and well marked upperparts. Will somebody expain that plumage to me please!

Freddy Johnson · **Posted:** Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:05 pm

This Covenham Dunlin thread is certainly throwing up more questions than answers.

Ed, when, re Russ Telfer's remarkable photo, you reference "the upper two Dunlin/ Curlew Sand hybrids", do you consider them just that or, much more likely, you consider that the two birds (presumably Dunlins) share some plumage characteristics of both Dunlin and Curlew Sandpiper.....although certainly no observer on Sunday reported a Dunlin in flight with an entirely white rump !

Is this Covenham thread re Sunday 18th September now being expanded to possibly include TWO Dunlins of as yet indeterminate race ?

Freddy

Kev Wilson · **Posted:** Tue Sep 20, 2011 9:19 pm

Hi

Seems to be a juv dunlin with two juv curlew sands in that photo.

No sign of any Dunlin on the Mere at Gib today Jayne.

Kev

Russ Telfer · **Posted:** Tue Sep 20, 2011 10:28 pm

I think Kev is right, having looked back at the series of shots I took I did take some as they flew off. These I paid no more attention to as they were out of focus but the one I'll post clearly shows 2 x curlew sandpipers and 1 x Dunlin. It's amazing what you miss hurrying to get Red-necked Grebes ad American Black Tern shots !

Russ

Edmund Mackrill · **Posted:** Wed Sep 21, 2011 6:46 am

Well that's that sorted!!!

Freddy Johnson · **Posted:** Wed Sep 21, 2011 9:12 am

Notwithstanding the interesting diversion of Russ Telfer's photo of " 3 Dunlins " which rapidly metamorphosed into 2 Curlew Sands and only 1 Dunlin, perhaps we should now return to the original subject of this thread.......namely, what conclusions can be drawn regarding the bird which intrigued a number of birders at Covenham on Sunday 18th September, including John Clarkson who wrote :

" The Dunlin we were watching was rather large and very long billed possibly beyond the range of sub-sp alpina and in the context of the other birds around maybe suggestive of one of the American sub-sp hudsonia or even pacifica."

and Phil Espin who thought it worthy of asking Tony Prater :

" to have a look at the Dunlin to see if it was racially identifiable."

.....and further to Roy Harvey's photo posted on 20 September.

Freddy

Phil Hyde · **Posted:** Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:58 pm

Freddy

Quote:

and Phil Espin who thought it worthy of asking Tony Prater :

" to have a look at the Dunlin to see if it was racially identifiable."

Phil Hyde

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) Covenham - 18 Sep

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