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page.Dunlin
Calidris alpina
The dunlin's breeding grounds are along the coasts of Scandinavia, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Great Britain and Ireland. European populations winter mostly on the coasts of western Europe and North Africa. During migration the species is found throughout Europe on the muddy edges of ponds, lakes, and rivers. Some birds, however, are resident. The greatest concentrations of dunlin are found on tundra. Birds return to their breeding grounds in late March and in April. They inhabit the seashore, river deltas and inland waters, occurring on wet meadow, moor or marsh. Nests are located near water, usually concealed by a tussock of grass. As a rule, the female lays four eggs at the end of April or in May; in the extreme north of the range, as late as the beginning of June. Both partners take turns to incubate for 21 to 22 days. As soon as the newly hatched birds are dry, they leave the nest but remain in the neighbourhood. They can fly at 28 days, and, in the far northern tundras, even at 20 days. The birds then form flocks that roam the countryside seeking water. At this stage adult birds start migrating, whereas the young remain until the end of August. When the dunlin forages for food, it wades in shallows but sometimes it also swims. During the nesting season the diet consists mainly of the larvae of mosquitoes, other insects and small molluscs and crustaceans; in autumn the birds also gather seeds.
Click on any of the other bird links, these are Geese Barnacle Goose : Brent Goose : Canada Goose : Greylag Goose
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And the rest, in no real order of importance: Common Sandpiper : Coot. : Corncrake : Curlew. : Dunlin : Greenshank : Lapwing : Moorhen : Oystercatcher : Redshank : Ringed Plover : Snipe : Spotted Crake : Stone Curlew : Turnstone : Whimbrel : Woodcock.
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