March Dunlin

Richard called me at 11:45 saying "Dunlin on BSL sailing club beach"....."on my way" I said and 5 minutes later was watching a nice winter plumage bird from 45 feet. Great to get a Dunlin so early in the year and 4 out of the last 6 years have had March birds, but prior to that we have to go back to 1998.

The trend so called, is either first week, end of 2nd week and end 3rd week, almost never last week.

2016 - Mar 15th
2015 - Mar 23rd
2012 - Mar 3rd
2011 - Mar 5th
1998 - Mar 23rd & 24th
1996 - Mar 25th
1994 - Mar 16th
1993 - Mar 20th
1991 - Mar 7th
1989 - Mar 13th
1987 - Mar 1st
1986 - Mar 14th
1984 - Mar 9th
1983 - Mar 21st
1981 - Mar 22nd

It was great to see this bird and so close, allowing some rather nice record shots.