Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
Length 28cm

Non-breeding visitor from high Arctic nesting grounds, present usually from September to April. Almost exclusively coastal, favouring estuaries and mudflats. In winter plumage (A), looks grey with upperparts spangled black and white and underparts whitish. Juvenile birds can have buffish wash to upperparts leading to confusion with golden plover. Stockier grey plover shows black 'armpits' in flight at all times. Birds in breeding plumage (B) sometimes seen in spring and autumn and have striking black underparts, separated by grey upperparts by band of white. Trisyllabic pee-oo-ee call is like human wolf-whistle. Generally solitary. Feeds in plover manner: runs for several yards, tilts forward and remains still before leaning forward to pick morsel from mud.