DANK, DULL, DRENCHED, DREICH, DIRE and that's only me!
So maybe a good job we still have the second and final part of The Waders in the locker which starts with another strange and interesting family group the PHALAROPEs.
of which there are but 3 members with the
GREY PHALAROPE,
as we call them, rarely being seen in Great Britain in any other plumage than that shown above and being the most common to visit our own shores. However, the American's usually seeing them in a different light most usually in breeding plumage, quite rightly refer to them as
GREY PHALAROPE,
as we call them, rarely being seen in Great Britain in any other plumage than that shown above and being the most common to visit our own shores. However, the American's usually seeing them in a different light most usually in breeding plumage, quite rightly refer to them as
RED PHALAROPE
The second on the 'scarcity table' is the
The second on the 'scarcity table' is the
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
followed by the most uncommon (rare in GB) of them all
followed by the most uncommon (rare in GB) of them all
WILSON'S PHALAROPE
which have been observed in the foothills of the Andeas in their many thousands!
Collectively, they are all just as happy on fresh water as they are on the sea but have a most bizarre method of hunting. Spinning on either surface like a 'top' a vortex is formed below into which invertibrates are dragged and slowly forced to the surface where the birds pick them off willy-nilly!
which have been observed in the foothills of the Andeas in their many thousands!
Collectively, they are all just as happy on fresh water as they are on the sea but have a most bizarre method of hunting. Spinning on either surface like a 'top' a vortex is formed below into which invertibrates are dragged and slowly forced to the surface where the birds pick them off willy-nilly!
First seen, in order from the top Norfolk - 1978, Hampshire - 1977 and Radipole, Weymouth - 1984.
WANDERING TATTLER
Galapagos - 2003
BLACK-WINGED STILT
Dorset - 1985
RUFOUS-CHESTED DOTTEREL
Brazil - 2001
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER
Stains Reservour, Surrey - 1983
KITTLITZ PLOVER
Madagascar - 2010
MEGELANIC OYSTERCATCHER
Falkland Islands - 2007
The most spectacular individual DUNLIN ever seen
Galapagos - 2003
Dorset - 1985
Brazil - 2001
Stains Reservour, Surrey - 1983
Madagascar - 2010
Falkland Islands - 2007
Barrow, Alaska -2007
GREAT KNOT
Darwin, Australia - 2008 
BLACKISH OYSTERCATCHER
Falkland Islands - again 2007
AUSTRALIAN PRATINCOLE
Alice Springs, Australia - 2008
Falkland Islands - again 2007
Alice Springs, Australia - 2008
Surely everyone's favourite 
local grown
AVOCET
along with a contender for one of the
most remote
Waders on Planet Earth
ROCK SANDPIPER
Pribalof Islands, Bearing Sea, Alaska - 2011
along with a contender for one of the
