| Case Summary for:
Submission No. 280: Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius.
Rottnest Island, WA, 21 November 1999. Unpublished. Submitted by: Frank
O'Connor. Verdict: Accepted This submission relates to a plover seen at Pearce Lakes and Government House Lake, Rottnest Island, WA on the 21st November 1999. The bird was seen by a number of reliable observers who were experienced with Little Ringed Plover for periods of up to 30 minutes. The description is very brief outlining some of the important characters noted in the field including; size (estimated to be similar to that of a Red-capped Plover), brown upperparts, white underparts, complete brown chest band, white throat & collar, pale forehead, supercilium extending beyond the eye, dark lores, no wing-bar in flight, pale underwings, white uppertail coverts (at rest), black bill, orange-yellow legs and a thin yellow eye-ring. The observer goes on to point out that nearest contender - Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula can be ruled out by the lack of a wing bar. All members commented on the brevity of the submission. However, the lack of a wing-bar, thin yellow eye-ring, white supercilium and leg colour are consistent for the species claimed and the majority of the committee voted in favour of acceptance. This record therefore representing the 10th confirmed record of this species to be accepted by the committee.
· 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 (6): 269-277.
Tony Palliser |