My OperaPlovers
Thursday, September 2, 2010 11:07:32 PM
A few shots from this afternoon at Rottingdean. The tide was in (not my preferred time for visiting), which meant a hike in the direction of the Marina to find any shoreline. It proved a worthwhile visit. At first all I could see were some black-headed gulls nesting down among the sea weed. Then I spotted some movement. Plovers. Lots of ringed plovers (with plenty of juveniles among them). Among them one bird stood out, head and shoulders above the rest: a grey plover.
Grey Plover
This was a first for me. Like the black-headed gull the dark plumage will fade over winter, but at the moment it was very distinctive.
Grey plover in flight
There was just one grey, but countless ringed plovers. They merge perfectly with the pebble beach, and can be incredibly difficult to spot from a distance. These are juveniles (I'm basing the identification on the white stripe above the eye... they are very similar to the 'little ringed plover'.
Ringed plovers (juveniles)
More juveniles
Adult ringed plover
There seems to be a running theme in recent posts of birds flocking. Well the plovers have clearly been following this blog, and on several occasions took to the air for a quick circuit.
A passing cormorant stops to watch as they fly past
Heading back
Touch down
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
Grey PloverThis was a first for me. Like the black-headed gull the dark plumage will fade over winter, but at the moment it was very distinctive.
Grey plover in flightThere was just one grey, but countless ringed plovers. They merge perfectly with the pebble beach, and can be incredibly difficult to spot from a distance. These are juveniles (I'm basing the identification on the white stripe above the eye... they are very similar to the 'little ringed plover'.
Ringed plovers (juveniles) More juveniles Adult ringed ploverThere seems to be a running theme in recent posts of birds flocking. Well the plovers have clearly been following this blog, and on several occasions took to the air for a quick circuit.
A passing cormorant stops to watch as they fly past Heading back Touch downCamera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
RobinRobinL # Friday, September 3, 2010 1:43:19 AM
Darkogdare # Friday, September 3, 2010 8:51:41 AM
ERWINWulpen # Friday, September 3, 2010 6:44:34 PM
Uncle MickMickeyjoe-Irl # Friday, September 3, 2010 7:21:50 PM
Originally posted by Words:
Standing out being a relative term,Words # Friday, September 3, 2010 11:05:06 PM
Words # Friday, September 3, 2010 11:05:43 PM
Words # Friday, September 3, 2010 11:08:17 PM
Words # Friday, September 3, 2010 11:16:32 PM
Uncle MickMickeyjoe-Irl # Friday, September 3, 2010 11:49:14 PM
Adele BrandSittingFox # Sunday, September 5, 2010 8:12:01 AM
Words # Sunday, September 5, 2010 10:09:51 AM
NeilUkwildlife # Sunday, October 3, 2010 1:29:56 PM
Words # Sunday, October 3, 2010 2:24:29 PM