I photographed this bird a couple of years ago in Woodlands Historic Park in Greenvale, Melbourne. There were two of these birds. I've had a look throught my Simpson and Day field guide and haven't found anything that matchs. Does anyone have any ideas. Sorry if the quality's bad.
Ninox
Black-fronted Dotterel. :)
Wow, i never knew they occur at woodlands historic park. I will have to go back there lokking for them.
I assume they hang around the creek area near somerton road?
Cheers, Owen.
Windhover, I thought Black Fronted Dotterels had a black band across their chest. This one doesn't.
Owen1, I found this one in the south eastern part of the park.
Ninox
Ninox
Ninox, juveniles don't have a black breast-band.
al
Cheers,
al
Central Victoria
https://sites.google.com/site/blackhillreservekyneton/home
Thanks al
Ninox
Ninox
At first glance it looks like a Black Fronted Dotterel, or then maybe it could also be a Red Capped Plover (female). Both common in Victoria...Raven
Agree with Windhover, it's a Black-fronted Dotterel. The black band around the front can't be seen here, I suspect due to the image quality. The black head band rules out it being a Red-capped Plover of any sorts.
Thanks for all your suggestions. I'll agree with Windhover and Al and say it's a Black-fronted Dotterel juvenile. Although Raven's suggestion of a Red-capped Plover is valid, the following photo shows a black band around the back of the neck (which Red-capped Plovers don't have).
The thing that really threw me off was the fact that in the first photo it looks like the top of the birds head is white but that must be because of poor image quality. On closer look of the second photo I can actually see that the top of the bird's head is brown.
Thanks for all your help.
Ninox
Ninox
Dotterels are often found inland, so seeing one at Woodlands does not surprise me (though they are not regualr).