Breeding of the semipalmated plover Charadrius semipalmatus in Russia

During surveys in north-eastern Chukotsky Peninsula, northern Far East of Russia, in summer 2002 breeding of the semipalmated plover was documented for the first time for Russia by finding of a nest with eggs near Neshkan (67°02' N, 172°54' W) and both fledged and unfledged young near Lavrentia (65°35' N, 171°00' W). Other records include observations of birds at sites with co-ordinates 65°56' N, 172°13' W and 65°34' N, 171°29' W with supposed breeding in the former site. Ratio of brood numbers oi Ch. semipalmatus and Ch. hiaticula near Lavrentia was 1 : 2.5. Thus it is the second known sympatry area of the two species (the first one is known on Baffin Island, Arctic Canada)