Pages

▼

Wednesday, 17 August 2016

Wild Bird Wednesday 212 - Dunlin and Sanderling

The Brough of Birsay is a small island off the north-west coast of the Mainland island of Orkney - like almost all of Orkney it is very rich in archeological sites.  You can get to the island by walking over a causeway at low tide.  As we were returning from looking at the archeological sites I noticed a couple of wader dashing about in the rocks on the shore.

I got good views of one of them and knew it was a Dunlin - that black belly is a bit of a give away.  I assumed the second bird was also a dunlin, but inspection of the pictures I took show it to be a Sanderling.

One of the things that I find hard about identifying these waders in the UK is that I rarely get to see them in breeding plumage - by the time they arrive in Australia, there are in their non-breeding plumage, and generally looking less colourful.

So, here is a Sanderling (first two pictures) and a Dunlin (the rest).

Sanderling
Sanderling







When this post 'goes live' I will be deep in the Northern Territory - so I will be well and truely 'off the grid' as far as internet and such like.  So, don't get impatient if you dont hear from me for a while.  

Hope to be able to post some NT birds for next weeks WBW.

So, off you go, click the Blue Button and I'll see you when I get back!  SM
at

26 comments:

  1. Brian King17 August 2016 at 03:01

    Both are gorgeous birds! I really like the feather patterns!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Breathtaking17 August 2016 at 03:08

    Hello Stewart!:) Have a great time!:) They do seem similar at first glance but I see the difference now. They are both lovely birds, with gorgeous plumage colours and patterns.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gayle17 August 2016 at 03:10

    Once again magnificent camouflage. Both beauties.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kenneth Cole Schneider17 August 2016 at 03:10

    Nice crisp shots of the feathers. I rarely get to see a Dunlin in breeding plumage. I did not know that Sanderling acquired the similar black belly. Are you certain it is not another Dunlin? I know that the Dunlin's bill can be somewhat variable and not seem to have much of a droop.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kenneth Cole Schneider17 August 2016 at 03:13

    OOPS-- I was looking at the third bird, as I thought you meant the second bird after the Sanderlings! Sorry-- you are right on!

    ReplyDelete
  6. eileeninmd17 August 2016 at 03:23

    Hello, pretty shots of both the Sanderling and Dunlin. I like the Dunlins showing their black bellies. Thanks for hosting. Enjoy your day and the week ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Prunella Pepperpot17 August 2016 at 04:17

    Gorgeous images of the Sanderling and Dunlin. Their markings are beautiful.
    Thank you for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday. Have a wonderful week.

    ReplyDelete
  8. NatureFootstep17 August 2016 at 04:22

    I love the sanderling even if I never seen it so colorful :) A wonderful bird.
    Thanks for hosting. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Author R. Mac Wheeler17 August 2016 at 05:47

    I'm not much for names...I just know them as cute little brown wading birds.

    ReplyDelete
  10. TexWisGirl17 August 2016 at 09:24

    i like the dark belly.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Pat Tillett17 August 2016 at 12:59

    Really nice photos Stewart.
    Enjoy your adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Margaret Birding For Pleasure17 August 2016 at 15:24

    Both beautiful waders

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tony McGurk17 August 2016 at 18:33

    Two lovely birds & a great collection of shots of them.
    Have fun up North

    ReplyDelete
  14. photodoug17 August 2016 at 23:27

    Stewart, great captures of these shorebirds. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This N That18 August 2016 at 00:58

    They are pretty regardless..love their markings..

    ReplyDelete
  16. Marilyn Kircus18 August 2016 at 02:00

    Neat to see birds we share. I finally got pretty good at identifying dunlun in the winter. But I've been away from them for over a year so will probably hve to relearn them. Thanks for the post.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous18 August 2016 at 05:00

    That black belly is quite distinctive. Otherwise, I can see how they could get mixed up. You did a great job of capturing those beautiful colors and patterns. Hope you're having a great time!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous18 August 2016 at 10:32

    They even have pretty names, Stewart! Great photos considering how quickly shore birds seem to move...at least when I want to take their pic!!...:)JP

    ReplyDelete
  19. diane b18 August 2016 at 14:20

    Hope you get to the wildlife bird show up there. These birds are pretty and very similar.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Adam Jones18 August 2016 at 19:29

    When it comes to waders, the Sanderling is up there with my favourites. Lovely images, and like you say, not easy to distinguish in it's varying plumages. I always have to check the feet for that missing hind toe.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Inspired By June19 August 2016 at 00:14

    Good eye, Stewart! Great captures of these two. Happy, safe travels!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Optimistic Existentialist19 August 2016 at 19:10

    They look like friendly little critters :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lee19 August 2016 at 19:43

    I hope you enjoy/ed your visit into the depth of NT. We expect some great photos when you resurface! :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Lady Fi20 August 2016 at 15:53

    That is a pretty bird.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening21 August 2016 at 00:52

    Your photos of the Sanderling and Dunlin are beautiful. These shore birds both have such nice markings and they seem to have posed for you!

    ReplyDelete
  26. GreenComotion21 August 2016 at 15:43

    Remarkably beautiful bird!
    And, exquisite snaps, Stewart!!
    Have a Happy Sunday!!
    Peace :)

    ReplyDelete