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Eurasian Dotterel


Eurasian Dotterel
Photo Information
Copyright: AUDEVARD Aurelien (aurelien11976) (106)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-05-10
Categories: Birds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2013-03-30 2:25
Viewed: 2325
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Eurasian Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus), or in Europe just Dotterel, is a small wader in the plover family of birds. It breeds in the Arctic tundra of northern Eurasia, from Norway to eastern Siberia, and on suitable mountain plateaus such as the Scottish highlands and the Alps. It nests in a bare ground scrape and lays two to four eggs.

This species is migratory, wintering in a narrow belt across north Africa from Morocco eastwards to Iran. Migration stopovers are traditional, and small parties (trips) of Dotterels pass through each year at these usually inland arable or grassy sites. The winter habitat is semi-desert.

This plover is smaller and more compact than Eurasian Golden Plover. It has a striking whitish supercilium in all plumages and has plain wings in flight. Adults in summer are unmistakable, with a chestnut breast bordered above with white, black belly and warm brown back. The legs are yellow, and the short bill is black. As with the phalaropes, the female is brighter than the male. The male Dotterel generally is responsible for incubation and looks after the chicks. In most cases the cock dotterel successfully prevents other males from getting his mate and fertilizing her eggs. He usually rears chicks that he has fathered and only 4.6% (2/44) of chicks were not the genetic offspring of the caring male, corresponding to 9.1% (2/22) broods affected.[2]

Winter birds lack the rich underpart colouration, apart from the white breast line, and are greyer above. Young birds are similar but have a scaly appearance to their backs. The Dotterel's food is insects and other small invertebrates such as snails and worms and shellfish. These are obtained by a run-and-pause technique, rather than the steady probing of some other wader groups. The flight call is a soft pyurr. The female's song is a simple repetitive whistle.

The Eurasian Dotterel is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

The Dotterel has long been considered tame and unsuspecting. This led to it being easy prey for illegal collection of the bird, which depleted its stocks. Another consequence of the friendly and trusting nature of this bird has caused the name 'dotterel' in English to carry a negative connotation. The term 'dotterel' is a contemptuous label used to describe somebody who is considered to be a doting old fool. The Gaelic name Amadán has a similar meaning. The dotterel's friendly nature made it an easy prey for sportsmen: King James I of England went every year to Royston, Hertfordshire to shoot dotterels. (WIKIPEDIA)
Argus, freakywindow, nagraj, pirate, Pitoncle has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

你好
照的很清晰
鳥很可愛
還有的姿勢逗趣
構圖也美麗
謝謝分享
STONE

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2013-03-30 2:45]

Bonjour Aurelien,
A belated welcome to TN!
A superb capture of a female Dotterel of top quality in every way and even better considering that you took it nearly 8 years ago!
Bravo et merci pour le partage,
Amicalement,
Ivan

An extremely sharp image with lot of details and bright colors.

SM

  • Great 
  • nagraj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1618 W: 106 N: 3208] (15166)
  • [2013-03-30 5:24]

Hi,
Beautiful species and excellent image with good colors and depth. tfs.
nagraj.v

  • Great 
  • iti Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 577 W: 0 N: 650] (7939)
  • [2013-03-30 6:21]

Hi Aurelien,
Excellent details,colours and perfectly sharp photo.
Beautiful surroundings and blurred background too.
Regards Jiri.

Hello sir ...
You posted very good pic today ..
Photo has great sharpness and good details ...Natural light suplendid beautifully ...You focused very well on your subject ...it's a perfect pic in any sense ..Thanks for sharing ..
Regards : LOVISH GARLANI

  • Great 
  • hsn6a Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 160 W: 0 N: 435] (8652)
  • [2013-03-30 7:38]

Hello Audevard,
good capture bird,very nice charadrius species,nice details,regards..

Really a magical image with excellent sharpness, focus and colors. Ali .

Bonjour Aurelien
Great welcome on TN! Fantastic capture of this bird rare visitor in Portugal.Great low lateral POV,wonderful colours and light and excellent sharpness.Thank You.
Best wishes
J.Diogo

Fantastic photo Aurelien! The composition, the colours and the sharpness are excellent! Beautiful bird too!
Regards,
Christodoulos

Salut Aurelien
in all aspects a perfect picture: light management, colors, exposure on white, sharpness, catchlight, pose, compo and the cherry on the cake, nice little flowers around
absolutely great
tfs
Tom

perfect dotterel capture, TFS Ori

Bonjour Aurélien,
Bonne valorisation du sujet dans une très belle lumière et sous une excellente profondeur de champ.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Hello Audevard,
Excellent photograph, excellent sharpness and details, good composition, excellent background and lighting.
Tfs,
Daystar-7

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2013-04-28 11:56]

Hello Audevard,
Missed this beautiful so far. What an amazing beautiful photo. Light, colours, sharpness, details and pose are all fantastic. Taken from a perfect low POV.
Regards,
Peter

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