Early spring plovers

By the time the first Little Ringed Plovers start to return to their breeding sites in, say, mid-march, you may easily already have three other plovers on your #My200birdyear list. Here are four plovers to look for in early spring

Ringed Plover

Dumpy and pretty, the Ringed Plover is mainly a coastal breeder, but several also nest inland at suitable gravel pit sites and so on. Small, and stripy, but bigger and more rounded than the Little Ringed Plover; the bill has a bright orange base, the legs are similarly orange and there is an obvious white wing bar seen in flight.

Golden Plover

A bird which breeds in upland moorlands, the Golden Plover is a major flock former in the winter, regularly found in flocks of several thousands strong, which may occur on coastal marshes but also on inland fields, often with Lapwings. Golden spangled upperparts and white underwing are the key attributes here. In breeding plumage they get black bellies and variable amounts of black on the breast and face.

Little Ringed Plover

Slim and long-winged, the dainty, perky LRP favours inland gravel pits and similar sites. The bill is finer than that of the Ringed Plover, and all dark. There is a prominent yellow eye-ring and the wings lack an obvious wing-bar. (Note there is more on distinguishing these two birds on page 40).

Grey Plover

A big, robust, goggle-eyed plover which is mainly found at the coast and on estuaries, more rarely inland. Look for the black ‘armpit’, especially in flight. Winter birds are like larger, greyer versions of the Golden Plover. Breeding plumaged birds are strikingly black-bellied and faced, contrasting with the spangled grey black and white upperparts. The bill is also longer and thicker in Grey Plover.