Red-kneed Dotterel on nest

[Martin Butterfield <>]

Reflecting on the Carwoola area this seems to be an interesting difference to the Black-fronted Dotterel which are common breeders here.  We haven't recorded presence of a Red-kneed in the area in my 7 years, let alone breeding.  (Of course R-k D are regulars not too far away on Lake Road.)  

At your convenience, what does the DB say about breeding of the Black-fronted?  And do you have any idea why there might be a difference between two apparently similar species?

Martin

On 27 October 2013 19:31, Wallaces <> wrote:

I have been watching a Red-kneed Dotterel at Kellys Swamp for over 5 hours on three out the the last four days. It is always sitting in the same spot except for a few short periods when it left for a stretch and a quick feed before returning and settling. While it is not possible to see the eggs, I am convinced that it is incubating. According to the COG database, Eremaea and Steve Wilson’s Birds of the ACT, this is the first record of a nest in the ACT. Copulation has been recorded previously and there was plenty of this from another pair at Kellys so perhaps there will be more than one nest. Hopefully it will be confirmed by young in a few weeks.  Dependent young have been recorded in the past from the COG Area of Interest but not from within the ACT, according to the records in the COG database.

 

Steve

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Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/