This week we had a report from a local
birder of a colour-ringed Dunlin in South Dublin Bay on April 21st. As part of
the Dublin Bay Birds Project, we have ringed a good few (hundreds) Dunlin but
we haven’t colour ringed any. We know that the bird was ringed as part of a wader ringing project in North West Africa,
at Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, on January 9th 2013.
Northward bound - colour ringed Dunlin,
South Dublin Bay |
The Banc d'Arguin stands on the African
Atlantic coast, where the ocean and the desert meet. The area comprises shallow
coastal areas with extensive mudflats covered by seagrass, small islands,
coastal swamps and sand dunes. It is one of the most important areas in the
world for migratory waders, holding approximately 2 million birds.
From ringing site to Dublin Bay, but where in
between?
|
We get three difference races of Dunlin in
Ireland, two of which, schinzii and artica, winter in west Africa. The schinzii race breeds in small numbers in
the northern extremes of Ireland and the UK, as well as in south eastern Greenland,
Iceland, the Faroes, Norway and the Baltic. Small numbers of slightly smaller
and shorter-billed artica birds move
through on passage en route to and
from north eastern Greenland each year.
We are always on the lookout for
re-sightings of colour ringed birds, so if you see any, and can read the
inscription, combination of colour rings or get a good photo, we would be
delighted to have the record. Thanks to all our regular and casual ring
readers, we hope you have been enjoying the good weather recently - perfect for
ring reading...
Observations can be submitted here.
RW
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