Jon: Like most wintering shorebirds, Dunlin are much more beholden to
tidal cycles than they are to photoperiod. I have banded Dunlin in the
Nisqually River delta since 1976, and can assure you that they are plenty
active nocturnally, responding to the availability of mud upon which to
forage. Conversely, of course, they roost and sleep at high tide during
the day.
Steve Herman

On Tue, 23 Jan 1996 JAnder6788 at aol.com wrote:

> Hi Tweets,
>
> Coming home from another #!!&% meeting a few minutes ago.
>
> At 9:10 p.m., I drove past Capitol Lake park in downtown Olympia. As my
> headlights swept the children's play area, I noted several domestic geese and
> ducks (as well as a few semi-wild Mallards, Coots and Am. Wigeon) bathing in
> a rainwater puddle near the "jungle gym" contraption.
>
> Also, there were reflected back at me the white bellies of 75 Dunlin in a
> pretty good little feeding frenzy all along the 'shore' of this puddle.
> There is some light from street lights, etc around, but the site is dark
> enough that I don't think I could 'read a newspaper' in what light is
> available. I watched them for several minutes, until my wife pointed out
> that I was blocking traffic.
>
> I wonder just how much we're missing by not getting in on "night-time
> birding". I have a hard time just getting out and owling, but I know that
> the critters we love to watch spend a lot of time foraging, etc at night.
> Must be why they're always loafing with their heads over their backs, just
> when I'm sure I've found that rare straggler.....
>
> Thought I'd share,
>
> Jon. Anderson
> Olympia, Washington
> JAnder6788 at aol.com (temp. address)
>