Hauxley Wader UK (1 Viewer)

[oddrode]

Could you please help with the id of this wader seen at Low Hauxley Northumberland
Thank you

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello, both are Sanderling. They vary greatly during this time of the year (and also in summer), when seeing them in Europe.
Reason for this is different advance in moult timing, 2 cy birds (?),and a slight variation in plumage, but I would like to receive expert confirmation, how true is this statement.
But please note:

• lack of supercilium, that many (but not all winter plumaged Dunlins show (right bird)
• good brown tone in the left bird, most similar is Little Stint, which is a much smaller bird
• spotting to whole breast and breast sides, giving it a peppered appearnance
• much too strong base to bill for a Dunlin in the right bird (? right, I am not sure about variation. Its just my gut feeling)
• white blaze/ring around bill in the left bird, but I am not sure if this out of variation for a Little Stint. But it still adds to Sanderling jizz

 

[oddrode]

Hello Alexander,
Thank you very much for your input.
I thought Sanderling at first but they weren't running to the waters edge and back like a clockwork toy, typical Sanderling behaviour. There were approximately ten in total and I was drifting towards Dunlin but your observations have me saying Sanderling.
Another two birds are shown in the attachment.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Yes,
the new birds are also Sanderling. The pitfall of a "calm" Sanderling, where lack of typical behaviour points away from Sanderling-jizz was mentioned in the german edition of "The MacMillan Guide to Bird Identification", dont know, if this also true for the original english version?

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[Butty]

If the water isn't going back and forth, the sanderlings won't be either...