Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Species
Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula). Taken on Inner Farne, Northumberland on June 4th 2008.
Taken on Inner Farne, Northumberland on June 4th 2008.
(1/250th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula). Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on September 19th 2019.
Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on September 19th 2019.
(1/400th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

Description

L: 17 - 19.5 cm; WS: 35 - 41 cm

The Ringed Plover is a small, dumpy, short-legged wading bird. It is brownish grey above and whitish below. It has a orange bill, tipped with black, orange legs and a black-and-white pattern on its head and breast. In flight it shows a broad white wing-stripe.

It is resident around British coasts. In the summer it can also be found inland.

It breeds on beaches around the coast, but is now also breeding inland in sand and gravel pits and former industrial sites.

There are about 8500 breeding pairs in Britain, and around 35000 birds over-winter here.

Its conservation status is Amber, owing to its small breeding population and habitat loss.

Sightings

13-Sep-2023 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)

02-Sep-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3juv)
20-Jun-2022 : Ravenglass, Cumbria (1)
21-May-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)

06-Sep-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1juv)
27-Aug-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
20-Aug-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
16-Aug-2021 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
09-Aug-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
28-Apr-2021 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (3)

13-Oct-2020 : Overy Marshes, Norfolk (2)
31-Aug-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1juv)
22-May-2020 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
03-Feb-2020 : Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk (1)

03-Nov-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
05-Oct-2019 : Cley Marshes, Norfolk (7)
19-Sep-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1juv)
05-Sep-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2juv)
31-Aug-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2juv)
23-May-2019 : Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire (2)
21-May-2019 : Broadford, Skye (2)
20-May-2019 : Grenitote, North Uist (10)
20-May-2019 : Ardivachar, South Uist (20+)
19-May-2019 : Balnarad, North Uist (4)
19-May-2019 : Aird an Runair, North Uist (30+)

30-Sep-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (5juv)
24-Sep-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2juv)
13-Sep-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1juv)
30-Aug-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1 juv)
28-Aug-2018 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
10-Mar-2018 : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands (1)

12-Oct-2017 : Cley Marshes, Norfolk (2)
09-Oct-2017 : Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk (4)
18-Sep-2017 : Lodmoor, Dorset (2)
12-Sep-2017 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1juv)
31-Aug-2017 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1juv)
10-Aug-2017 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)

07-Nov-2016 : Playa de Bolonia, Spain (2+)
06-Nov-2016 : Barbate, Spain (20+)
05-Nov-2016 : Playa de Los Lances, Spain (4+)
17-Apr-2016 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)

24-Oct-2015 : Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk (2)
13-Sep-2015 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
06-Sep-2015 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
15-Aug-2015 : Rushy Common, Oxon (1)
16-Apr-2015 : Port Meadow, Oxford, Oxon (1)

31-Aug-2014 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
01-Aug-2014 : Leighton Moss, Lancashire (5)
11-May-2014 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
08-May-2014 : Newport, Pembrokeshire (17)