beach bird id please

[jay2]

Please can someone help id this beach bird?
I saw it last year (09) in August on a beach in Kent.
It was alone and allowed me to approach quite close.





Thanks
Jay2

[aeshna5]

Dunlin in non-breeding plumage.

[jay2]

Thank you aeshna5.
Please tell me the distinguishing features that led you to the conclusion.
I spent hours pouring over the books and photos on the web and was still unsure. Previous Dunlin I've seen have been in flocks, and moving around on sand/mud. This one being alone and not wanting to move much threw me.
Anyway thanks again.
Jay2

[pegasus]

I'd have a said a Ruff-----but i'm a useless birder!

[Ferret]

I would say that this bird is a Juvenile Dunlin Calidris alpine, why: slightly down curved dark bill, rather plain head markings with no clearly marked supercilium, slight gingery wash to head and nape, white stripes on back forming a V pattern, white flanks and you can just see the spotting on the belly.

Hope that helps jay2

Ferret

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Ferret

I would say that this bird is a Juvenile Dunlin Calidris alpine

It is - and the reasons given clearly say why.

[John]

First of do you have a decent field guide because what I am explaining below needs to be done in conjunction with one.

If you can't take in the description Ferret has given, and as a beginner (if that is what you are) it is hard to grasp these finer details, it is good to just look at the basics to rule out what it isn't first.

Using this method you work out what the bird isn't and then by process of elimination you could get down to a few birds that it possibly is. Once down to those few birds you can usually find by looking that bit harder what your bird actually is from the remaining birds you have left. It is far easier checking the finer details on a small amount of birds than it is looking through all the waders.

The shape and bill length rule out Plovers.The Bill length & shape will rule out a lot more such as Turnstone, Ruff, Knot, Godwits etc. The combination of bill shape / length, body shape, leg colour also rule out waders such as most of the Sandpipers, all the Shanks (Redshank etc), all the Stints plus Sanderling and a few other birds. Once you have ruled those out what are you left with.

Dunlin & Curlew Sandpiper plus some of the very rare waders such as White-rumped Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Bairds Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Broad-billed Sandpiper . The last five you are unlikely to find (but not impossible) but I'm sure that even a beginner could have a chance of working out which bird yours is from the first two by reading up what it says in the field guide. You might not work out that it was a juvenile but there is a good chance that you could end up with Dunlin.

If you do have a field guide give it a try. This method works with all birds but obviously there are some birds that look so alike that you could end up not being able to finalise what bird it is without expert advice.

Regards
John

Originally Posted by Ferret

I would say that this bird is a Juvenile Dunlin Calidris alpine, why: slightly down curved dark bill, rather plain head markings with no clearly marked supercilium, slight gingery wash to head and nape, white stripes on back forming a V pattern, white flanks and you can just see the spotting on the belly.

Hope that helps jay2

Ferret

[jay2]

Thank you Ferret, Roy and John.
I did follow the points raised in Ferret's reply, Thanks.

I had used a guide and narrowed it to Dunlin and stint.
But I now have a new guide- Collins second edition, and can see the differences that you state in your message.
I am a long term casual birdwatcher, competent at my local patches and able to pick out anything different there, but I am much less experienced at coastal birds and just beginning to get to grips with these. So thanks for all your help and support.

Jay2

[elvisoneill]

John

That is an excellent explanation..thorough and rational.

You are either a great teacher or a flaming good detective!

Best

Elvis

[John]

Thanks Elvis

Originally Posted by elvisoneill

John

That is an excellent explanation..thorough and rational.

Elvis

Sadly neither.

John

Originally Posted by elvisoneill

You are either a great teacher or a flaming good detective!

Best

Elvis