Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Unmistakable shorebird. Large wader with black and white plumage, striking orange-red, straight bill and red orbital ring. Legs pinkish in adults and grey in juveniles. Broad white wing-bars. Stocky build, with fairly short legs and broad chest. Flight pattern straight and level. Winter plumage with white half-collar on chin. Juveniles with browner tone to upperparts than adults, and black tip of bill.
Sound:Very vocal. Sharp, loud and far carrying, disyllabic or monosyllabic calls "ku-eek" or "kleek". Often works itself up into a crescendos of fast, piping calls, and then mellows out.
Song/display:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCOnly small wader in the region with a dark or spotted belly. Most common small wader in area, and an important reference species when identifying congeners. Bill quite long with slightly curved tip. Legs dark. Summer plumage with unmistakable large black patch on belly, and variable warm, rufous brown back. Juveniles and moulting adults usually shows at least some diagnostic dark spots on belly in contrast to white flanks. White V-shaped markings on back, but not as striking as in juvenile Little Stint. Only adults in winter plumage shows completely white underparts (and uniformly grey back).
Sound:Contact call a diagnostic, very nasal "trrreeet" . Given throughout the year and in many situations, including when being flushed. Song: A drawn out, nasal "tweeet", and ringing variations on the contact call in decrescendo. Low chattering heard from feeding birds.
Song:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC