Some Waders & Ducks - Aberdeen (1 Viewer)

T

TheSeagull

Well-known member

• Sep 10, 2009

• #1

Seen these at Bay of Nigg and the Lighthouse...
http://picasaweb.google.com/CalvinMacKinnon/IdentificationNeeded#

I can see the Ringed Plover, Cormorant and Gulls but what are the others?

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Sep 10, 2009

• #2

1. Ringed Plovers and Dunlin
2. Oystercatchers, Herring Gulls, a Shag and an Eider
3. Lots of Eiders, a few Oystercatchers and Herring Gulls, possibly a Turnstone and lots of Sandwich Terns flying
4. Mostly Cormorants, Herring Gulls, GBB Gulls and Oystercatchers

Looks like you had a good time Calvin.

 

T

tjbirdofprey

Dorset birder in Spain

• Sep 10, 2009

• #3

TheSeagull said:

Seen these at Bay of Nigg and the Lighthouse...
http://picasaweb.google.com/CalvinMacKinnon/IdentificationNeeded#

I can see the Ringed Plover, Cormorant and Gulls but what are the others?

Click to expand...

Quite hard from pics but I think on the first pic there are Dunlin mixed in with the plovers. maybe on the second an Eider... on the 3rd a group of terns, Sandwich terns...... EDIT: cross posted!

 

T

TheSeagull

Well-known member

• Sep 10, 2009

• #4

Thank you, so can Dunlin have plumage variations? As on the first one the Ringed Plovers are on the left side and on the right the two birds look different to me.

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Sep 10, 2009

• #5

TheSeagull said:

Thank you, so can Dunlin have plumage variations? As on the first one the Ringed Plovers are on the left side and on the right the two birds look different to me.

Click to expand...

Yes the right hand birds are Dunlin. They vary quite a lot, like most waders, with very different summer, winter and juvenile plumages. There are also variations between subspecies. Mastery of Dunlin variations is a bit of a prerequisite for identifying other small waders!

 

phil baber

Clipped Wing

• Sep 10, 2009

• #6

IMO the top Dunlin in pic 1 is a Juvenile and the lower a Juv moulting to 1st Winter plumage.

 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Sep 10, 2009

• #7

phil baber said:

IMO the top Dunlin in pic 1 is a Juvenile and the lower a Juv moulting to 1st Winter plumage.

Click to expand...

I'd agree with that.