A full summer plumaged Pacific Golden Plover was found at Rutland Water, Rutland, Leicestershire on Monday 15th July 2013. It promptly disappeared during the day, on Tuesday 16th but was relocated in the evening. The bird was still present on Wednesday 17th and so we raced off late afternoon to see it. What a stunning bird and my first full summer plumaged adult.
This was a first record for the Midlands of this rare Siberian wader. Not so regular to our shores as American Golden Plover, which is the confusion species. A small Golden Plover very slim and elegant, with very long legs and long tertials that cloak the primaries, effectively giving the primaries a somewhat "short" appearance.The white border to the jet black underparts extends well round to the flanks, whereas in American Golden Plover it only fringes round to the upper breast.
The greyish underwing and axillaries were seen, also aiding the identification process from Golden Plover, which has a silvery white underwing with white axillaries.
Obviously a Midlands tick and a year tick taking the year list on to 205.
Adult summer Pacific Golden Plover & roosting Lapwing – Rutland Water – Tony Davison©
Adult Common Tern in late evening sunshine – Rutland Water – Tony Davison©
One Response to “This Time a “Specific Golden Plover” !!”
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Great stuff – nice Common Tern shot.