FLYMPH FORUM

I've been meaning to share these photos for a while, but just getting around to it. These are photos of an old museum mount of a Dotterel. The owner of this mount was kind enough to let me photograph it, during our Roscoe trip (June 2012). By sharing these close up photos, I am hoping that others can find a modern substitute for this very rare material, often referenced in the old fly tying recipes.

I have been using Honey Dun hen's saddle feathers as a substitute. I would be very interested to hear what others would use, based on these reference photos, or their own preference.

I got sub from either Jim or Cookskill's

For parts of that bird (the darker bits, lower back and wing coverts) I could sub some Hen Mallard feathers for. Odds are though the Dotterel feathers are going to be a lot smaller.
Our Brown Teal would go closer to the colours you show in the photos...... but it is very heavily protected and no chance of getting any of those.

The neck region might be a bit harder, kind of a light dun tipped with ginger brown. Might get something out of a female Blackbird or Song Thrush to go close....... will look into that.
The Hen Chinese Painted Quail might be worth a shot as well.

Thanks Jeff. Nice analysis.

Bob - Do you know what the sub materials were?

It's bleached and dyed starling. It's a very nice color.

I've bought a very nice bleached starling skin from Jim a while back. I hadn't thought of it as a sub. Thanks for the reminder.

Those look familiar to me but I have never had Dotterel. I will go through my stash.

I found the same coloration on a Bobwhite Quail but the pattern is different. I do have a Whiting genetic hen in a rusty dun that is a very close match colorwise but not quite the same texture.

How about Starling under-wing coverts? Or is the dun part of the feather too dark? They do have a nice ginger tipping.

I pulled out my subs and here is what I see. The sub marked dotterel came from Veniard's. It is darker than what is pictured and it's staring wings.
The bleached ginger that I got from Jim is very close, maybe a shade light but closer than the Veniard's.