Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
Minsmere
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
Minsmere
Plover, Grey
The grey plover is a chunky plover, larger than the similar golden plover. The grey plover is found only along the coast, preferring sandy and muddy estuaries. Although a small number of birds stay during summer this is really a winter migrant, arriving here from July, peaking in autumn and leaving from April onwards the next year. Like other plovers it forages for invertebrates and crustaceans in a particular way: standing and watching, running forward, pecking, then standing still again.