Romke Kleefstra & Arjan Boele (2025) Breeding and territorial Baltic Dunlins Calidris alpina schinzii in the Dutch Wadden Sea and the northern Dutch provinces over the past 40 years. LIMOSA 98 (4): 160-166.

Since the last breeding record of Baltic Dunlins in the Dutch Wadden Sea area in 1986, no more nests were found in the north of the Netherlands. Territorial birds were, however, regularly observed. In 2023, after 37 years, a nest was found in the Lake Lauwersmeer area. This article lists all cases of territorial Dunlins in the Dutch Wadden Sea and the neighbouring northern Dutch provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe. A total of 38 ‘territories’ were documented, of which 23 were based on distraction/alarm behaviour, 14 on displaying individuals/pairs in breeding plumage, and the nest in 2023 (Tab. 1). Most cases were recorded in the Dutch part of the Dollard estuary (13) and the Lake Lauwersmeer area (12). In 24 cases, the birds inhabited saltwater environment of salt marshes, and in 14 cases, in freshwater environments such as flooded grasslands, heathland, and mown reed beds. We discuss the completeness of this overview, the observed behaviour of the birds, habitat characteristics, and the population development of schinzii’s in countries around the Wadden Sea, Baltic Sea and the Netherlands.

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