I’m kicking off my Dunlin gallery with these nine images taken last Saturday 10 October at the Embouchure du Var, the delta where the Var River meets the Mediterranean Sea on the western border of Nice. The pleasant golden hour lighting made for a memorable celebration of World Migratory Bird Day.

They’re considered small waders, but with the same distinctive, if slightly droopy bill. I spotted five, all sharing the same mudflat near the river’s mouth, but only managed to catch four in the same frame.

They moved quickly, almost nervously, changing direction every few short strides while continuously poking those droopy bills into the mud, like a sewing machine needle working a stitch into dirty denim, in search of the tiny crustaceans that live just beneath the river’s flow. Thinking back now, I don’t recall them ever really stopping or pausing as they circled the shallow edges of the flat. After about 10 minutes, the first two took off in the direction of the east bank. After several more circuits, two others took flight about 10 minutes later, with the last, uncomfortable on the flat alone, following just a few seconds later.

This was the third time I’ve crossed paths with them. The first two occasions were in October 2025 in Portugal at the EVOA near Lisbon and again a few weeks later near the Camargue in southern France, both latitudes south of Nice. Some Dunlins do winter on the northern and western Atlantic coasts of France, but the Mediterranean coast is most often a stop-over to points in western Africa and India.

Seven more images below.

Dunlin in brief (with assist from WordPress AI but double-checked by me at Birds of the World and Wikipedia):

• Latin Name: Calidris alpina
• Size: Length: 28–30 cm (11–12 in); Wingspan: 65–70 cm (25–28 in)
• Weight: 50–90 g (1.8–3.2 oz)
• Diet: Primarily invertebrates such as worms, crustaceans, and insect larvae.
• Habitat: Coastal areas, wetlands, and tundras; Countries/Regions: North America, Europe, and Asia
• Physical Description: Breeding plumage: rufous-brown on the back, white underparts, and black markings; Non-breeding plumage: grayish-brown above with paler underparts
• Breeding: Breeds on Arctic tundra; Nesting occurs on the ground in simple scrapes
• Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List) but population declines in some areas.
• Primary Predators: Raptors, foxes, and various mammalian and avian predators.
• Unique Behaviors: Notable for their elaborate flocking behavior during migration; Uses a distinctive “dun” call during flight.
• Range of Migration: Migrates from breeding grounds in the Arctic to wintering grounds across Europe and North America.
• Migration Periods and Patterns: Breeding season: Late spring to early summer; Migration: Typically begins in July, with wintering lasting until March or April.

Links for further reference:

• Dunlin at Birds of the World
• Dunlin at BirdLife DataZone
• Dunlin at eBird
• Dunlin at Avibase
• Dunlin at Wikipedia
• Dunlin at Oiseaux.net
• Dunlin at iNaturalist

For I.J.’s Birds of the Week collab hosted on his site Don’t Hold Your Breath.

Photos from 10 October 2026 taken at the Embouchure du Var in St. Laurent du Var, France. Post last updated on 13 October 2026.