How did you do?

BIRD 1

We begin with a wader in mid ‘shrug’ with its wings partly raised. From what we can see in the photo, it is dull grey-brown above and clean white below, with a smudgy breast band. The short bill is too short for most waders, straight away ruling out snipes, godwits, curlews and sandpipers, and instead leading to the plovers. Further, the plain plumage and that breast band imply it is one of the ‘ringed plover’ species (the breast band is too heavy for their close relative, the rare Kentish Plover). But is it Ringed or Little Ringed? Several features combine to show it is a Little Ringed: small fine bill; yellowish eye-ring; ‘capped’ appearance, with a brown head lacking a pale supercilium; attenuated rear end; long dull legs. This is a juvenile Little Ringed Plover.

KEY FEATURES †Tiny dark bill, ‘ringed plover’ pattern †Longish tail; attenuated rear end †Pale yellowish eye-ring; no supercilium †Smudgy breast band implies juvenile

Clear eye-ring, no supercilium Short, fine, dark bill Longish tail creates attenuated rear end