Thursday 10 December 2020

Beginners Guide to Waders: Part 5: Plovers

 Five species of plover covered here and all rather straight forward once you have got a good look at the bird. Green plover, better known as Lapwing, Golden plover, Grey Plover, Ringed plover and Little Ringed plover.

Lapwing:

An unmistakeable bird, usually seen in large numbers. Green with a crest, showing broad rounded black and white wings in flight. A little time at Amwell studying these and it will become a familiar and easy bird to recognise.



Grey Plover:

A bird, again unmistakeable in summer plumage. A stunning bird showing a silver grey back and jet black belly whilst in summer plumage. This bird migrates from North Africa to the Arctic regions to breed. It has been noted that it does the Spring journey north in one go whilst its return journey is frequently interrupted with fuelling stops on salt marshes and beaches. A common bird for North Norfolk in September where a late moulting bird maybe found, still supporting the breeding plumage. These two examples are just starting to moult. First from Titchwell, second one from Dungeness, Kent



Note their long legs which are also apparent in their duller non breeding plumage. This is a strikingly larger bird than the next species, the Golden plover. Rarely seen in large flocks and frequently solitary in its nature. Note the legs still appear long and the overall feel for the bird is a grey and white bird sporting a black bill with dark legs. First photo here, a distant one on Cley beach, the second one taken from the platform of Faro station, Portugal overlooking the salt creeks next to the station. 

Grey plover: dark bill, longish dark legs, grey plumage and a rounded, dumpy bird. As can be seen be these terrible photos, the dark eye stands out from the pale face and cheeks



Golden Plover:

A bird that can be found in its 1000's in many areas of the UK. I used to watch these flocking on Frodsham Marshes, Cheshire where I cut my ornithological teeth aged 7-11. Basically, in summer plumage, a golden version of the Grey plover, only smaller and shorter legged. Again, likely to be seen in moult in August and September upon returning from breeding grounds before it takes on its familiar golden flecked non breeding plumage. Below, 5 recent returnees to Norfolk, still showing the black belly and the flecked golden wings and back. Again, a dark eye and dark legs. Second photo shows part of a huge flock that can be witnessed at Titchwell. Note the solitary large bird showing rounded black and white plumage; a Lapwing.

Top Tip: When watching waders it is not uncommon for the whole lot to take to the air at the same time, spooking gulls as well to take off. When this happens it is invariably a bird of prey that has spooked them: Marsh harrier, Peregrine, Hen harrier etc. Look to the sky to see what it has caused the commotion. 



In winter plumage the Golden plover stands out when roosting upon a mud scrape. Usually in big numbers but always worth checking through for a different bird. Here, several self explanatory shots of Golden plover in non breeding plumage. Compare leg length with Grey plover. In overall comparison a smaller, daintier bird and one that any visitor to places such as RSPB Titchwell will become familiar with very rapidly. These photos: 1 Aviero, Portugal 2. Titchwell beach and 3. Cley Norfolk Wildlife Reserve.




Ringed Plover:

The Ringed plover and the smaller Little Ringed plover are a tad more tricky to sort out, but there are some easy diagnostic features to aid id. Firstly, the Little Ringed plover is a bird that moves north to the UK to breed from Africa, a summer migrant so it can be ruled out after September and before mid March. 

let's look at the resident Ringed plover. In breeding plumage a bright orange bill and orange legs. It shows a black stripe, thick around the eye, thinning around the base of the bill. White forehead followed by another black stripe across the front of the crown. A wide black band across the breast. Wings a light brown/faun colour. An example here from Tavira in Portugal whilst the second photo of Ringed plover and Dunlin is from Aviero, mid Portugal. Note the similarity in size to the Dunlin. Size is all important when making field notes on waders. Compare it in size to a bird that you know that is close by.






In non breeding plumage it becomes a much paler version of the breeding plumage. The bill becomes dark, the brightness loses its lustre and the legs become a much less bright orange. Note the white collar all around the back of the neck and the dark patch around the eye. As a resident it will be likely this bird can be encountered at any time of the year in Norfolk.
If still in doubt about the bird you're watching being Ringed or Little ringed wait until it flies. Ringed plover shows an obvious wing bar whereas LRP has an all dark wing.


 

Little Ringed Plover:

As stated, a summer migrant to our shores, the first ever LRP to breed was indeed in Hertfordshire at Tring reservoirs in, I think without checking, 1955. Therefore, it is most likely to be encountered in breeding plumage where the stand out feature is a spectacular yellow eye ring, never present on Ringed plover, as shown below. A much thinner bird than the rounded Ringed Plover.



To differentiate from Ringed plover, note the extra white stipe across the top of the head, the dark bill and darker legs. It is also a smaller bird but for that to be useful it really requires both species to be seen together. However, LRP is a much slimmer bird than the rounded Ringed plover. The yellow eye ring really does stand out. Photos here from Amwell Reserve.

The LRP does hang on until quiet late in the year and will be seen in non breeding plumage, again a less colourful version of the breeding plumage.



Note the much finer bill on LRP and the thin black collar bordering the white ring over the back of the head. Also, the LRP shows a patch of white above the base of the bill and its legs become a fleshy shade of pinky/yellow. Finally, no white wing bar on LRP. Photos from North Norfolk and Amwell. A habit of LRP during breeding season is to spend a lot of time running around over sandbanks and mud scrapes in an attempt to catch flies that land upon the damp mud. Rye Meads RSPB near Broxbourne normally hosts them, seen often from the Draper Hide.

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This is me

This is me
At the end of another Norfolk Coastal footpath walk. 47 miles, 3 days 99 species of bird. September 2009

Caley Wood view

Caley Wood view
sunshine through the canopy 29.05.08

A walk along the Warta Valley, Poznan, Poland. Feb 2007

A walk along the Warta Valley, Poznan, Poland. Feb 2007
Best birds on this walk: black and middle spotted woodpecker and short toed treecreeper

About Me

My photo
A primary school teacher for 30 years, I retired from teaching in July 2009 to set up my own science enhancement and communication company. The Primary Works offers science clubs, workshops and staged science shows nationwide. I have always been interested in bird watching since my early years. Apparently my first tick was after inquiring about a chaffinch and then receiving the Observer book of birds. By the age of 9 I had moved on to Tory Peterson's collins guide and was now involved on YOC birding holidays to Northumbria, Essex coast, Slimbridge and Yorkshire. My twitching rule is that I will willingly travel 1km for each gram the bird weighs. However, I have had many rarities just by being in the right place. I have travelled widely throughout Europe and also visited Australia and Sri Lanka. In 2016 I spent time at Portland Bird Obs and two trips to Aviero, Portugal. 2017 found me back in Sri Lanka in Feb/March, then July and back for New Year's Eve celebrations in December. Also returned to The Camargue in May for a 4 day trip. Few plans for 2018, but nothing yet booked apart from a trip to the IOW.

Grey heron

Grey heron
Over the allotment 28.09.08

Southern Hawker

Southern Hawker
Ridge footpath 27.08.08

Juvenile green woodpecker (17.08.08)

Juvenile green woodpecker (17.08.08)
Note the stripes, denoting a bird fledged this year.

common blue

common blue
Ash Valley G.C. 15.08.08

Indian balsam (impatiens glandulifera)

Indian balsam (impatiens glandulifera)
River Ash

azure damselfly

azure damselfly
River Ash 28.07.08

marbled white

marbled white
Discovered at Westland Green 22.07.08

ruddy darter

ruddy darter
Bush Wood 21.07.08

honeysuckle 19.07.08

honeysuckle 19.07.08
growing in hedgerow in Chapel Lane

cinnabar moth caterpillar

cinnabar moth caterpillar
Photographed on ragwort 19.07.08

Bittersweet

Bittersweet
Study of petals 11.06.08

male yellowhammer

male yellowhammer
08.06.08

common blue butterfly

common blue butterfly
06.06.08

River Ash

River Ash
looking south from the bridge at Hadham Ford

Common poppy (papaver rhoeas)

Common poppy (papaver rhoeas)
in rape field 29.05.08

Caley Wood sunshine

Caley Wood sunshine
29.05.08

Millenium Wood fox

Millenium Wood fox
24.05.08

common comfrey (symphytum officinale)

common comfrey (symphytum officinale)
06.05.08 banks of the River Ash

Garlic Mustard or Jack by the Hedge,(Alliara petiolata)

Garlic Mustard or Jack by the Hedge,(Alliara petiolata)
flowers, leaves and fruit edible . Good in salad and pesto

April showers

April showers
Double rainbow 30.04.08

Caley Wood bluebells

Caley Wood bluebells
22.04.08

Yellow Archangel

Yellow Archangel
Chapel Lane (20.04.08)

sunlight 16.04.08

sunlight 16.04.08
looking south west from Bush Wood

snowy buds

snowy buds
06.04.08 in Bush Wood

Looking north west

Looking north west
05.04.08 evening shower approaching

Back Garden

Back Garden
Easter Sunday (23.03.08)

Brick Kiln Hill

Brick Kiln Hill
Looking east (23.03.08)

No play today

No play today
The 2nd hole at Ash Valley golf course

Teasel head

Teasel head
Bush Wood (21.03.08)

Reflections

Reflections
daffodils at Bush Wood pond (21.03.08)

Swollen River Ash

Swollen River Ash
The river at the bottom of Winding Hill 16.03.08

Daybreak over the chapel

Daybreak over the chapel
Thursday 13th March

Wild daffodils (narcissus pseudonarcissus)

Wild daffodils (narcissus pseudonarcissus)
growing in Bush Wood

January snowdrops

January snowdrops
Banks of River Ash, north of Much Hadham

Good Moon

Good Moon
From garden 24.01.08

Village Green

Village Green
Looking east towards Acremore Street

Looking south before Hadham Ford

Looking south before Hadham Ford
rare January blue sky

Useful sites

The following are some useful websites that may interest readers of this blog.
Firstly, Bishop's Stortford Natural History Society http://bsnhs.webplus.net/

Fellow birder, Gary Whelan's blog. Gives reports from our trips out together plus reports from his trips abroad. http://hairybirders.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.hertsbirdclub.org.uk/ The official herts bird club website. Frequently updated, listing bird sightings around the county. Offers links to many other websites. Both of these sites also offer links to yahoo discussion groups.
http://www.birdforum.net/ An international site. You can enter as a guest but become a member( free) to post comments, bird sightings and just about anything to do with wild birds. Good news updates, classified section for binoculars, cameras etc.
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com/ A new site set up where you can contact people worldwide who will help you find good birds in their country. UK section being set up presently.
http://www.britainsbirder.co.uk/
Fellow birders blog. Strtford resident, Graeme Smith regulary birds the area south of Stortford as well as around Spellbrook and the River Stort from Spellbrook to Twyford Locks. Some superb bird photography: Graeme uses a digital camera attached to his powerful telescope to get detailled images of the birds he sees. Well worth a browse.
Two local sites that may be of interest can be found at
http://www.thehadhams.com/ www.thepelhams.net/content/section/12/139/

South Easterly walk

South Easterly walk
black, normal, red extended walk

South Westerly route.

South Westerly route.
Black usual, red extended

North Easterly walk

North Easterly walk
black short, walk. Red, extended

North West Patch

North West Patch
black route regular. Red route the extended wander