Breeding and Wintering Areas of Dunlin Migrating through Southern Baltic

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Abstract
Two main questions are discussed: (1) the eastern limit of dunlin Calidris alpina populations migrating through the Baltic and (2) migration between the Baltic and the Mediterranean/Black Sea. Ringing and moult data show that some dulins migrating to the Baltic originate from more easterly regions than previously presumed. Many dunlins migrating in autumn through the Baltic are in active moult. Some of them probably start their moult while breeding and originate from areas east of the Urals. These birds show some easily recognized plumage patterns: their new median coverts (usually only some of them) are of "adult buff" type. This is characteristic of Central and Eastern Siberia populations which start moulting very early, while still on their breeding grounds. Ringing data show that these birds winter in western Europe as well as in the Mediterranean. Some dunlins from the Baltic migrate in autumn in a SE direction - to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions. The origin of these birds is not known. The SE direction may be used also by Polish breeding schinzii. Some Dunlins of the subspecies alpina, ringed in the Baltic in autumn, are controlled in spring at the Black Sea; in autumn they seem to migrate along a more northern route - through the Black Sea (loop migration).

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