Saturday 14 September 2013

Ringed Plover

I was thinking the other day, as I link to Stewart from Australian and Anni from America on their bird memes, and I  post an Australian bird every Wednesday on my blog, I will post a single bird from anywhere in the world on Saturday's.  I will be starting with some waders from Northern Ireland although they can be found on many parts of the world.  I have chosen the Ringed Plover as my first bird as I particularly love to see it.


Most of the photographs were taken a few years ago at Newcastle Beach, Co. Down, Northern Ireland.  I will add some information regarding the Ringed Plover between the shots.  Now I am sure you  are wondering why am I showing you a stony beach!  Well look closer because that is where four waders were resting. There are Red Shank, Turnstone, Ringed Plover and Sanderling.


Can you see them?
Don't worry if you can't as I will show you them in a minute.


One of the most familiar wading birds on European shores, the Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) has a typical plover appearance with bold black and white markings. A black band runs around the breast and hindneck, and another runs across the cheeks, through the eyes and over the forehead. The underparts are a contrasting white, while the upperparts are a camouflaged brownish-grey. A yellow ring surrounds each eye and the short beak is bright orange with a black tip.  Look at the size differences between these birds above.




The Ringed Plover is a somewhat small and dumpy bird, with short legs, a round head, large eyes and a robust, compact body.   See size difference with Sanderling.




Size: Length: 18 – 20 cm  Wingspan: 48 – 57 cm  Weight: 42 – 78


If a potential predator approaches its nest, the Common Ringed Plover will feign a broken wing to lure the intruder away.

Males tend to perform more nighttime egg incubation, while females incubate more during the day.




Eggs are laid between April and mid-July in a nest which is no more than a shallow scrape in the ground lined with pebbles and vegetation. The nests are usually fairly isolated from others, but in areas with high food abundance, the nests may be arranged in loose groups, with between 5 and 100 metres between each one.


There is a high degree of site fidelity, meaning that more often than not, breeding birds will return to the same area to nest each year. The parents are extremely aggressive around the nest and will fiercely defend it by calling loudly and swooping at intruders.


 Usually four eggs are laid per brood, at intervals of one to three days, and are subsequently incubated by both the male and female for some 21 to 27 days. The chicks fledge after around 24 days in the nest, but few survive past their first year, although those that do may live to 10 years of age.


Like other members of the Charadriidae family, a group of birds which includes the plovers, lapwings and dotterels, this bird forages in a distinct way: standing and watching, running forward and pecking, and then standing and watching again.


 
The Ringed Plover forages on open ground, at both day and night, for a variety of invertebrates, including crustaceans, isopods and various insects.
Relying heavily on its strong eyesight to locate its prey, food is plucked from on or close to the surface with its short beak. Underground prey is enticed to come to the surface by ‘foot-trembling’, whereby the bird stands on one foot and rapidly taps the other on the ground, imitating the vibrations of rainfall.


The sexes are similar in appearance, although the breast band is usually tinged with brown on the female, but juveniles are cryptically patterned with brown and black speckling.


 Small feeding territories may be defended from other plovers, particularly on intertidal flats which are rich in food, but when not foraging, birds congregate to roost together, often close to the feeding ground just above the high water mark. Usually the Ringed Plover collects into small flocks of up to 50, but on occasions large groups of between 1,200 and 1,500 birds have been seen.





A group of plovers has many collective nouns, including a "brace", "congregation", "deceit", "ponderance" and "wing" of plovers.


I hope you enjoyed this post and perhaps next Saurday I will show you one of the other waders we have seen today from Newcsatle.

Thanks you for visiting.
 
I am linking with The D' Post

55 comments:

  1. This post I enjoyed. I never knew that there was so much to know about the plover. Thank you.

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    1. HI Adrian Glad you enjoyed this post and to know that you have learned something from it. Thanks for your comments

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  2. ...aren't they just the pretty little ones! Beautiful photos Margaret and yes I could see them on the stony beach

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    1. HI Carole Well done. Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed this pretty little bird.

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  3. great post and beautiful photos, the collective nouns are interesting, 'a deceit of plovers', who would have thought of that..and I like that the Plover is a social bird. The last photo is stunning Margaret, espceially the way you've caught the light-and his regard.

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    1. HI Lynn Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed the information and photos

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  4. Lovely little bird. I especially liked the pic of lots of them together and the one framed by the sea.

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    1. HI CT Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed the grop and the one framed by the sea.

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    1. Hi Anne Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed the photos.

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  6. Definatley enjoyed that, all them waders, fantastic.

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    1. HI Douglas Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed all the waders.

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    2. HI Douglas Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed the waders.

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  7. It's lovely finding out about this little bird Margaret, and your photos are wonderful. Thank you and wishing you a great weekend.

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    1. Hi Denise Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed the information and photos

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  8. Rather cute birds. They all stand facing the wind?

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    1. Hi Marcia Yesa birds alwaysdo that. Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed the post.

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  9. A handsome bird. I liked searching the rocks-- it is a good illustration of how those without an interest can overlook some marvels. Very informative discussion of the species.

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    1. HI Ken Yes very handsome.
      Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed looking for the birds on the rocks

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  10. These are adorable little birds. I love the shot where the rocks seem to be covered with a large group of them. It's interesting how they will lure a predator away from the nest.

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    1. HI Karen Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed the information and this little bird.

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  11. shorebirds are wonderful, but this guy is adorable!

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    1. HI Tex He would be my favorite small wader. Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed the post.

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  12. Oh my God, so many birds. I've never seen so many birds. Margaret, wonderful post and fantastic pictures.
    I wish you a nice weekend.
    Greetings. Lucia

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    1. Hi Lucja Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed the information and the birds.

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  13. Its a sweet little bird Margaret.

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    1. HI Roy Yes it is and I saw some in flight today. Thank you for your comment and glad you enjoyed the post.

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    1. HI Ruth Thanks for comment and I am glad you enjoyed the post.

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  15. I enjoyed your post on this pretty little bird!

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    1. Hi Cheryl Thanks for comment and I am glad you enjoyed the post

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  16. Oh wow!!! These are incredible photos Margaret!! I so enjoyed viewing. No, I could NOT see them on the rocky shore, but with their sweet look and busy demeanor, I always enjoy watching them scurry along the shoreline.

    wonderful post.

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    1. Hi Anni Thanks for comment and I am glad you enjoyed this little bird.

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  17. The Plovers are cute and look painted. They look very much like a killdeer, except they have the very short beak, like a barn swallow does. But then again, a killdeer is a type of Plover.

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    1. HI Ginny Thanks for comment and I am glad you enjoyed the post. We don;t have the Kildeer here.

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    1. HI EC Thanks for comment and I am glad you enjoyed this little bird

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  19. Interesting information accompanied by lovely photos.

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    1. HI Linda Thanks for comment and I am glad you enjoyed the information as well as the photos

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  20. Great series!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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    1. Hi Gary Thanks for comment and I am glad you enjoyed this series.

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    1. Hi Hans Thanks for comment and I am glad you enjoyed the photos.

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  22. Your images are beautiful!! So crisp and clear offering a great, up close look at these beautiful shore birds!!

    Have a happy Sunday!

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    1. HI Debbie I am so glad you ejoyed this post of thesse little birds and thanks for comment.

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  23. Beautiful photos, Margaret! The Ringed Plover is adorable, looks similar to the Piping Plover found here.
    Lovely series of shorebird photos. Have a happy weekend!

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    1. Hi Eileen Thanks for comment and I am glad you enjoyed the photos.

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  24. Lovely little birds Margaret, and great captures.
    Informative too.

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  25. Wonderful photos of this cute little bird. Have a lovely Sunday!

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    1. HI Gunilla Many thanks for you kind comment adn gladd you enjoyed this little bird.

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  26. HI Keith Glad youo enjoyed both the inoformation and the photographs. Thanks for commenting. Hope it is not to stormy over there. NOt birding weather here.

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    1. Hi Kerri Many thanks for your comment and I am glad you enjoyed this bird.

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  28. Love how they are all sitting together on these rocks! Such a cute grouping!

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    1. HI Jeanne Yes, people were passing adn didn't even notice there were even any bbirds on the rocks. Glad you liked the post adn thanks for coment.

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