Sunday 15 March 2009

Caspian Plover

Among the Sociable was a smaller blander plover. Distantly it looked like a Dotterel but closer views showed it to be a Caspian Plover. This female was a new species for us all, and another tricky one to catch up with. In a similar fashion to Sociable these birds winter in east Africa before migrating north through Iran and the like to breed in the Kazak plains.

Caspian Plover

Male Caspian’s show a rusty breast band, but the females are duller and more washed out. Not complaining but here’s hoping for a male next time!

A handful have showed up as vagrants to the UK – Scilly, Fair Isle, Shetland and Lothian have all recorded birds in the past 20 years, but none have been easy to connect with.