Grey Plover

In summer the Grey Plover has silver and black spotted upperparts, a black face, neck and belly whilst in winter it loses the black feathers and takes on a browny-grey look. In both plumages, the rump is white and in flight in winter it shows distinctive black “armpits”.

Like most plovers, the Grey Plover stands very upright and tends to run and then suddenly stop to feed. It is generally seen in small numbers although flocks can form when there is a high tide.

Grey Plovers prefer large muddy and sandy estuaries and the largest numbers are found on The Wash, the Ribble, Thames, Blackwater, Medway, Dee and Humber estuaries and Chichester and Langstone Harbours. A few birds stay through the summer and the first migrant adults arrive in the UK in July and August. Peak numbers are seen between November and March and birds leave in April and May.

Date: 23rd November 2007

Location: Leysdown, Sheppey, Kent