Diurnal variability in the detection of waders on their breeding grounds

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Abstract
The numbers of dunlin [Calidris alpina] recorded on transect surveys of 4 areas in Sutherland, and of golden plover [Pluvialis apricaria], curlew [Numenius arquata], lapwing [Vanellus vanellus], and snipe [Gallinago gallinago] on 3 areas in county Durham between different times of day were compared. More dunlins were recorded in the early morning than evening. Behaviors differed, with songs predominant in the morning and other calls predominant in the evening. In county Durham all 4 spp. had significantly more records in the early morning (< 0900 h) than either in normal hours (0900-1700 h) or the evening (> 1700 h). Large-scale comparative surveys will be biased if their data include transects started early in the morning as well as later in the day. The most efficient surveys will be those carried out on a limited area in the 1st few hours after dawn.

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