 Dunlin (Calidris alpina). Summer plumage. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on April 28th 2023. Summer plumage. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on April 28th 2023. (1/1000th sec at f9. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)  Dunlin (Calidris alpina). Winter plumage. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on April 26th 2017. Winter plumage. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on April 26th 2017. (1/160th sec at f14. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)  Dunlin (Calidris alpina). Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on September 13th 2023. Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on September 13th 2023. (1/1000th sec at f9. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) Description L: 17 - 21 cm; WS: 32 - 36 cm The Dunlin is the commonest small wader found along the British coast. It has a slightly down-curved bill and a distinctive black belly patch in breeding plumage. There are three subspecies of Dunlin, differing in bill length and the brightness of the rufous upperparts. Ssp arctica is shortest-billed and least rufous; ssp schinzii has intermediate bill length and rufousness; ssp alpina has the longest bill and the most rufousness. Actually separating them is quite difficult, but the shortest-bill individuals are probably male arctica or schinzii, and the longest billed are probably female alpina. Dunlin can be found on the coast at any time of year. They breed in upload areas in south-west and northern England, Wales and Scotland. They feed in flocks in winter, sometimes numbering thousands, roosting on nearby fields, saltmarshes and shore when the tide is high. Around 10000 pairs breed in Britain, with over half a million birds spending the winter here. However, this species on on the UK 'red' list. Sightings | 31-Jan-2024 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (2) |
| | 05-Dec-2023 | : | Cote, Oxon | (250+) | | 25-Nov-2023 | : | Cote, Oxon | (300+) | | 17-Nov-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3) | | 14-Nov-2023 | : | Cote, Oxon | (2) | | 07-Nov-2023 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (60+) | | 06-Nov-2023 | : | Cote, Oxon | (26) | | 13-Sep-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 28-Apr-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (6) |
| | 23-Sep-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (7) | | 02-Aug-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 21-May-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (10) |
| | 15-Sep-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3) | | 31-Aug-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2juv) | | 27-Aug-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 20-Aug-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 05-May-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 22-Apr-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 07-Mar-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (12) |
| | 13-Oct-2020 | : | Overy Marshes, Norfolk | (50+) | | 29-Sep-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 31-Aug-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | | 15-May-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 08-Feb-2020 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (1) | | 04-Feb-2020 | : | Overy Marshes, Norfolk | (4) | | 03-Feb-2020 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (4) |
| | 05-Oct-2019 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (10) | | 04-Oct-2019 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (4) | | 02-Oct-2019 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (15) | | 19-Sep-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | | 08-Sep-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 05-Sep-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (5juv) | | 17-Aug-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2juv) | | 12-Aug-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 21-May-2019 | : | Broadford, Skye | (6) | | 20-May-2019 | : | Ardivachar, South Uist | (250+) | | 19-May-2019 | : | Aird an Runair, North Uist | (40+) | | 09-May-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (4) | | 01-May-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 28-Apr-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (8) | | 10-Apr-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 17-Jan-2019 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (16+) |
| | 30-Sep-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 24-Sep-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2juv) | | 09-Sep-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1 juv) | | 02-Sep-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 28-Apr-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (4) | | 25-Apr-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (4) | | 04-Mar-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 18-Jan-2018 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | |
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