Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubius
Length 15cm

As name suggests, marginally smaller than ringed plover and with slimmer body but size alone is not a good guide to identity. Like its relative, little ringed plover has sandy brown upperparts and white underparts with black collar and breast-band and black and white markings on face. Close views of adult reveal black bill, yellow legs and characteristic yellow eyering. Juvenile similar to juvenile ringed plover but, in flight, wings lack wingbars; adults have similarly uniform wings, the best feature for distant identification. Summer visitor, seen on migration on coasts in spring and autumn. Breeds very locally on gravel workings and open fields, mostly in S and SE England and present there from early April to August. Calls include a loud pee-oo, uttered on rising.