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Originally Posted by schermuly  Hi thanks for your reply. Yes I thought a plover after looking for hours last night! it could be but..... the beak looked much longer and thinner than in the picture, I wonder if they could have been 'grey phalarope' is this possible? anyway going down later today with my camera, what are the chances!????? |
Did you check out the Turnstone pics on the link above? Your description of 'Magpie' like black and white plumage etc would suggest to me they weren't Dunlin/Sanderling/or other small caldrids. Grey Phals don't usually travel in groups and in rougher weather are usually found in puddles/shallow 'still' water feeding on larva/insects not on beaches in gales!
Anyway, here's one of mine from last year for you to compare
If they were Ringed Plover or Turnstone, very likely they will still be around, so I agree, without a pic, I'm afraid we won't be able to help much further I don't think.
Are you sure they weren't gulls or Sandwich Tern?!