Grey plover

[Ukwildlifeo]

I suspect this is a grey plover in winter plumage but Ive not seen one before, so Im not certain. Can anyone confirm for me?

[RobSutton]

Looks like one to me - the nicest feature to identify them is the black armpit as they fly off.

[Picidae]

Yes, it's a Grey Plover cf. Golden Plover here
Grey Iris
Grey Tarsiger.com
Golden Iris

Juvenile Greys can be confused with adult Golden but note the bill shape
Galleriet - Netfugl.dk
Golden:
Galleriet - Netfugl.dk

(It's BTO ringed btw be nice if you managed to get a shot of the number)

[sunnydale]

Nice shot Neil

[dunlin]

The dark spot behind the eye and dark armpit when the bird takes flight are things to look for.
great picture by the way
regards mark...........

[Ukwildlifeo]

Thanks folks, I couldnt think what else it could be, but I'm still not 100% with these grey and brown waders!

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Picidae

Yes, it's a Grey Plover cf. Golden Plover here
Grey Iris
Grey Tarsiger.com
Golden Iris

Juvenile Greys can be confused with adult Golden but note the bill shape
Galleriet - Netfugl.dk
Golden:
Galleriet - Netfugl.dk

(It's BTO ringed btw be nice if you managed to get a shot of the number)

Sadly I only spotted the ring as I was processing the photos, and was no where near close enough for reading the numbers on the ring.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

Thanks folks, I couldnt think what else it could be, but I'm still not 100% with these grey and brown waders!

Once you've got your eye in and interpreted them for yourself its much easier, you can even tell a lot of them Silhouetted and at distance - once you've got used to how they move and are sized relative to each other. For example:
Curlew are huge and have that big curved bill but most of all they are huge compared to other waders.
Godwit are smaller and have very long legs and a straight bill
Redshank are smaller still, have a relatively long neck and when feeding are very busy - always moving and they look quite preoccupied (and are also quite graceful I think).
Spotted redshank are much rarer to come across and are larger and somehow more refined, they look like they've got more smudged eye make up on because the white in front of their eyes quite prominant.
Greenshank are strikingly white (seem to me to be much whiter than they look in the book) and a bit bigger than a redshank.
Grey plover often looked a bit hunched up and depressed, they sometimes walk along slowly and stop with one leg left up in the air - like they've forgotten or just noticed something and its stopped them in their tracks.
Golden plover are nearly always in groups, are just beautiful and have a beautiful sound which you seem to be able to hear for quite some distance once you've learnt it.
Ruff often have heads that seem too small for their body and reg legs that seem shorter than redshank (they have a shorter neck too).
Dunlin are small, busy, quite long-billed and suprisingly white underneath at distance.
knot are (to my eyes) part way between dunlin and grey plover in size, shape and apparent temprament, they are almost distinctive by their lack of any particular obvious feature in a way.

I'll stop there - there are more smaller brownish and grey ish ones that look more than a bit similar in the book but are quite different in the flesh, but I've already got a bit carried away! (these are the ones I come across the most) Can you tell I've not made it out to any mud flats yet this winter!!!

[dunlin]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Once you've got your eye in and interpreted them for yourself its much easier, you can even tell a lot of them Silhouetted and at distance - once you've got used to how they move and are sized relative to each other. For example:
Curlew are huge and have that big curved bill but most of all they are huge compared to other waders.
Godwit are smaller and have very long legs and a straight bill
Redshank are smaller still, have a relatively long neck and when feeding are very busy - always moving and they look quite preoccupied (and are also quite graceful I think).
Spotted redshank are much rarer to come across and are larger and somehow more refined, they look like they've got more smudged eye make up on because the white in front of their eyes quite prominant.
Greenshank are strikingly white (seem to me to be much whiter than they look in the book) and a bit bigger than a redshank.
Grey plover often looked a bit hunched up and depressed, they sometimes walk along slowly and stop with one leg left up in the air - like they've forgotten or just noticed something and its stopped them in their tracks.
Golden plover are nearly always in groups, are just beautiful and have a beautiful sound which you seem to be able to hear for quite some distance once you've learnt it.
Ruff often have heads that seem too small for their body and reg legs that seem shorter than redshank (they have a shorter neck too).
Dunlin are small, busy, quite long-billed and suprisingly white underneath at distance.
knot are (to my eyes) part way between dunlin and grey plover in size, shape and apparent temprament, they are almost distinctive by their lack of any particular obvious feature in a way.

I'll stop there - there are more smaller brownish and grey ish ones that look more than a bit similar in the book but are quite different in the flesh, but I've already got a bit carried away! (these are the ones I come across the most) Can you tell I've not made it out to any mud flats yet this winter!!!

Gill what a fantastic description of wading birds. I always struggle with waders and frequently find myself referring to my bird guide for conformation
especially in winter.
You should do guided tours id certainly sign up for a days tuition
best regards mark.....

[Ukwildlifeo]

Thanks gill. Some rather handy tips there. I've got to the point where I can tell if its a godwit or a redshank but not which type of godwit or redshank!