SLUITERS JE (1948) Notes on the breeding of the little ringed plover (Chradrius dubius curonicus Gm.)
no title in Englisch available. LIMOSA 21 (2): 83-85.

On May 25th, 1947, when we (G. des Forges. F. M. Gurteen, E. R. Parrinder C. W. G. Paulson and myself) entered the Slufter on Texel we observed a Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius curanicus Gm.) feeding on the muddy shore of a brackish pool close to the inner dunes, on the side nearest to the Muy. It flew away towards the sea-shore. Later we went over to the other side of the Slufter, just behind the sea dunes, and again saw Little Ringed Plovers while we were looking for the nests of Avocets (Recurvirostra a. avosetta L.). Oystercatchers (Haematopus o. astralegus L.) and Kentish Plovers (Charadrius a. alexandrinus L.), Two pairs were present, and in occupation of territory, and it seemed likely that they were breeding birds - they did not associate with a little flock of Kentish Plovers and Ringed Plovers (Charadrius h. hiaticula L.) which were feeding by an adjacent tidal creek.
We found several scrapes - mere cavities in the sand lined with shells, mostly Cardium edule L. - and saw both pairs displaying in the courtship and hostility flights, as described by Sluiters (1938). Coition was seen on several occasions. A third male was present and was probably the cause of the intensive display activity of the other birds. No third female was seen and the third male was apparently a solitary bird; I have often noted the presence of odd nonbreeding birds, when several pairs are nesting in an area, and Par r i n d e r has also observed this in England.
No eggs had been laid by the time we left Texel on May 30th, but it seems almost certain that a nest would have been found if we had been able to stay longer, Several pairs of Kentish Plovers in the same area were behaving territorially, but only one pair had eggs.
As far as I know there is no previous record of the Little Ringed Plover breeding on Texel. There is only one record of breeding by the sea-shore in Holland; in 1937 on the Beer, the bird-island near the Hook of Holland, a nest with four eggs was found in the neighbourhood of a small pool on the shore (Ardea 27. p. 101, quoted by Haverschmidt 1942 p. 45). I also found the species breeding on the sea-coast near IJmuiden in 1937. but the birds were feeding at a little freshwater pool just inland.
Normally the Little Ringed Plovers to be found more inland. especially when it is breeding. and inhabits shingle banks by rivers or muddy places with dry areas covered with shells. grit or even cinders. Breeding by the sea-shore, and in consequence feeding at salt-water. is only rarely recorded. Wither by (1940, p. 356) gives the following description of the habitat of the species: "Markedly more a fresh-water bird than Ringed Plover. frequenting sand and gravel banks on rivers or borders of lakes and when found breeding on coast usually at the mouth of a river or stream... ". and on p. 357. "'Although nesting on low, sandy coasts, more frequently breeds on sand or shingle banks in rivers, on shores of freshwater lakes, etc.. often far inland." There is no mention of breeding on the coast away from fresh-water; fresh or at least brackish water is always a feature of the normal habitat.
Writing about the breeding of Little Ringed Plovers in Belgium. Van Havre (1928. p. 333) says: "Quelques couples se reproduisent dans la region du littoral et pres du bas Escaut... ". but Lippens (1942. p. 134) writes:" ... probablement quelques couples le long du littoral pres de Nieuport et de la Panne". so there is no certain record of breeding on the actual shore. Maya u d (1936. p. 50), however, does indicate breeding on the sea-shore of France: "Nidificateur: commun sur les greves des eaux douces. surtout rivieres. de France. parfois sur celles des cotes maritimes (mer du Nord)."
Of the distribution in Germany Niethammer (1942) writes: "Ganz Deutschland mit Ausnahme der gebirgigen' Teile im Westen sparlicher als im Osten. Meidet die Kiisten und ihre Inseln im allgemeinen. briitet aber vereinzelt an der Ostsee (in Ostpreuszen)." Laven (1939) gives some observations on the hatching of young Little Ringed Plover on the Kuhrische Nehrung. Durango (1943) records the species breeding on the shores of Faro, in the Baltic. It should be noted, however. that the salt-content of the Baltic is much lower than that of the North Sea. so the breeding there is comparable with the breeding near brackish water which is often observed in Holland.
It is interesting, in connection with breeding on the sea-shore. to note the article by Technau (1936) on the nasal glands of some sea-birds and of birds living more inland. The nasal glands of sea-birds and of birds which habitually feed on the shore are not only adapted to exclude organisms and matter dangerous to respiration, but must also deal with the minute grains of salt in the air and with the salt water which comes in during feeding and bathing; so these birds will have more highly developed nasal glands than birds which live and feed on the shores of fresh-water lakes ,and rivers. The nasal glands of Charadrius hiaticula. according to Teehnau, are more highly developed than those of Charadrius dubius, as might be expected from the difference in their habitats. But it is possible that dubius, after living by the shore for some generations, might develop in the same way as hiaticula.
With regard to the spring arrival of Little Ringed Plovers at their breeding places I wrote (Sluiters, 1938) that the first arrivals were during the first week of April, and that the birds seen in March were passage-migrants. Observation in subsequent years, however, has shown that, in Holland, the breeding birds also arrive in March. The earliest arrival of which I have a record was March 15th, 1945 near Amsterdam. In 1939, 1943, 1945 and 1947 I observed that the first Little Ringed Plover to arrive was a solitary male.
When the breeding area is suitable several pairs will often nest so close together that we may speak of "colonial-breeding" in the same way as Laven (1940) found with Ringed Plovers. In his study of ,the behaviour of Ringed Plovers Laven mentions courtship activities, which he calls the "Vorbaltz", before the birds have taken up their territories. I observed similar activities of Little Ringed Plovers by a dried-up pool near Amsterdam, in 1943, when twelve birds were feeding together in a flock, and courtship display was seen. It was apparent that the pairs were formed before the flock dispersed and tools up breeding territories, some of which were at a great distance from the pool.
In 1946 I observed two pairs in the neighbourhood of Rijen (North-Brabant) on a sandy area enclosed by woods on three sides and planted with young trees. I found one nest with four eggs. There was no water, except perhaps for some rainpools at a very great distance.

[free pdf] [dutch summary]