Submission No 253: Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius, Darwin Sewerage Works, NT 20 September - 8 October 1998. Submitted by Niven McCrie and David Harper.

Verdict: Accepted

This case represents a sighting of a plover observed regularly between September and October 1998 at the Darwin Sewerage Works, NT. Throughout the birds stay observations were made by several well known and experienced observers who have plenty of first hand experience with this species.

The description describes all the salient features of Little Ringed Plover and safely eliminates the nearest contenders. Some of the key features mentioned include; the lack of a wing-bar; orange-yellow eye-ring; absence of any palmations; attenuated rear and a relatively long, slim, tapering bill. Photographs were provided that additionally support the identification. Several members commented that the dull orange leg colour indicates the ‘expected’ subspecies curonicus (Carter & Rogers 1998). The combination of a white forehead, patchy blackish bar across the upper forehead and mostly abraded upperparts feathering suggest an adult moulting from breeding (alternate) to non-breeding (basic) plumage.

The committee has no hesitation in accepting this record as a Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius most likely of the race curonicus, representing the 6th confirmed record for Australia to be accepted by the committee.

References and Bibliography

• Carter, M.J. & D. Rogers. 1998. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius: A Kimberley record with comments on morphological and vocal aspects of eastern populations. Australian Birdwatcher 17: 269-277.
• Hayman, P. et al. 1986. Shorebirds: An identification guide to the Waders of the World. Croom Helm. Sydney.

Tony Palliser
Chairman Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)