Disagreement (1 Viewer)

[ScottishBirder]

Hey guys I was in Cairns innQueensland Australia when I snapped this wader. I thought a Dunlin ( Caldris alpina ) but was told it was a Curlew Sandpiper, I have since shown it to others and half says Dunlin and half day Curlew Dand. What do you all think ?? It still looks like a Dunlin to me but now not sure. Thanks in advance

 

[Richard Prior]

Looks OK for winter plum Dunlin to me SB.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Aren't the wings a bit long for Dunlin?

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Aren't the wings a bit long for Dunlin?

I think pp look long because tertials are shortish (very worn).

 

[John-W]

I'd confidently go for Dunlin if I'd seen it over here.

 

[ScottishBirder]

Yeah I would as well and had it down as Dunlin but so many Aussie birders saying its a Curse Sandpiper I'm just not sure now.

 

[MikeMules]

Well, how big was it compared to the Sharp-tailed Sandpipers? If it was a similar size then you have a Curlew Sandpiper. If it is the next size down then it could be a Dunlin. You don't happen to have a flight shot of it do you? That would id it in a heartbeat.

But since Cairns has thousands of Curlew Sandpipers and there have only ever been 2 confirmed records of Dunlin in Australia and your photo is a dead ringer for a Curlew Sandpiper, the balance of probabilities says it's a Curlew Sandpiper.

 

[Earnest lad]

Did you happen by any chance to see it in flight?

 

[ScottishBirder]

There was allot of Curlew Sandpipers but this one screamed Dunlin to me, the lack of supercillium and the fact it looked different from the rest made me think Dunlin. I have posted it on wader ID sites and most are saying Dunlin except Australian birders who all say Curlew Sand.

 

[ScottishBirder]

No i didn't as i just thought it was a Dunlin, i didn't know they were rare in Australia so didn't give it too much attention.

 

[johnallcock]

Curlew Sandpiper for me.

The legs (tibia) look a bit too long for Dunlin, colours are a bit greyer (less brown), the supercilium is fairly clear in front of the eye and the bill is towards the long end for a Dunlin (assuming it would be an east Asian bird). I think the Dunlin-like appearance arises partly because it is very hunched for a Curlew Sand and it is standing in water, making the legs look shorter.

The balance of probability really does favour Curlew Sandpiper in Australia. Dunlin typically winter a lot further north, but Curlew sand are very numerous there.

 

[mjh73]

As others have said, greyer, proportionally longer bill, primary projection all support Curlew Sandpiper, even before we apply Occam's razor.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[ScottishBirder]

Yeah starting to think aling they lines now but allot of experienced birds saying Caldris alpina, as I seen allot of CS that same place beside this one and they all looked like CS to me I will just leave this one as too many people disagree lol

 

[apcdave]

winter curlew sand chaps - can be tricky enough on the deck