1904. 39 



THE DUNLIN IN THE BREEDING SEASON. 



BY D. C. CAMPBEI<I^ 



During the late autumn months, through the shortening and 

 lengthening days of winter, on to early spring, by every low- 

 lying tidal river-shore and mud-flat the familiar flocks of so- 

 called grey " Sandiarks " are to be seen. .The Dunlins ( Trijiga 

 alpina, Linn.) are pre-eminently the Sandiarks of our northern 

 shores. 



As we watch them feeding for a time, and then taking wing 

 to shift their ground, it may be our eye loses sight of the 

 flock as it swiftly passes over the grey shore, until suddenly 

 it turns and then appears as it were innumerable points of 

 silvery light as the white breasts turn to the sun and reflect 

 the beams. 



Seldom do these little birds fall before the sportsman's gun, 

 but so closel}^ do they sometimes pack, that I knew of one 

 occasion on which they tempted a shore shooter to try his 

 luck and 70 fell at one discharge."" 



But although so familiar in autumn and winter, the 

 Dunlin is not so well known in its breeding dress. Many 

 would hardly recognize it when seen in the more retired spots 

 w^here it makes its home and rears its young. 



It may be the following short notes will be of interest to 

 some observers who have not had an opportunity of visiting 

 these nesting haunts. 



It is only during the last ten or may be fifteen years that the 

 fact has become known that the Dunlin breeds in ina7iy localities 

 in the N.W. of Ireland. I have noted it breeding in small 

 numbers at Eglinton, Co. Derry, on the shore of Lough Foyle, 

 and in large numbers at Inch, Lough Swill}', and have seen 

 it in breeding plumage at Portrush in May and at Rosapenna, 

 Co. Donegal, in July. 



1 Thompson (Nat. Hist. Ireland, vol. ii., p. 292) mentions from 70 to 100 

 Dunlms having been obtained by one discharge of a shoulder-gun on 

 Belfast Lough, and upwards of 300 from one shot of a punt-gun in the 

 same locality. — Eds. 



