Several people have asked about the Dotterel's name, both the English
and scientific (morinellus). The former is Middle English, the latter
latinized Greek, both meaning "little fool."

It has a long history of being easy to catch. Bent's (1928) life
history reports, for example, "Lord Lilford found it...in its winter
quarters on the plains of Tunisia, consorting with sandgrouse, lapwings,
golden plover, little bustards, and cranes. He...[encountered] many from
horse, donkey, or camel...the birds would run about fearlessly within a few
feet of the Arab plowmen."

No wonder so many birders have been able to connect with it (so far).
Now, get your camel and somebody--find us a sandgrouse!
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P W (Bill) Smith
Grays Harbor, Washington USA
birdman at techline.com