In search of Dunlin

Spent today once again battling into a strong westerly wind, this time on the high blanket bogs of Dartmoor in search of the world's most southerly breeding population of Dunlin. Unfortunately a tough 12 km hike through very remote and rough terrain and a scan of a vast area of bog (photo below by Chris Townend) produced not a single decurved bill or black belly. In fact there were hardly any birds at all, with just 1 Hobby, 2 Common Snipe, 1 Raven and 2 Northern Wheatear of note. Dunlin return to their breeding grounds on Dartmoor in late May so perhaps we were just a little too early? Fernworthy Forest provided some compensation with a singing Wood Warbler, 2 Redstart (1 heard), 3+ Tree Pipit and a pair of Bullfinch.