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page.Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticula
This is a bird of sandy and muddy shores. In Europe it breeds in Scandinavia, Finland, Russia, Iceland, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and France. Occasionally it also nests on the shores of inland lakes and ponds in central Europe. British birds are mostly resident, but those from other areas migrate south, wintering chiefly in southeastern Europe and northern Africa. During migrations the species may often be encountered on inland waters. Flocks arrive at the nesting grounds in April or May, forming pairs shortly after. It is interesting to note that the females are the first to arrive; the males follow and their advent in followed by courtship display. Paired birds then establish nesting teritories, often the same ones as the previous year. The male makes several nests (shallow scrapes in the ground) from which the female chooses. They are usually located close to water, in sand or among rocks, and are lined with small stones or shell fragments. In May and June, sometimes also in July, the female lays four eggs which both partners take turns incubating for 23 to 26 days. The newlyhatched young abandon the nest as soon as they have dried and are tended by their parents. When they are able to fly they roam the countryside in small flocks. The females are the first to depart for winter quarters. Ringed plovers feed mainly on insects and their larvae, but also take worms, small crustaceans and molluscs.
Click on any of the other bird links, these are Geese Barnacle Goose : Brent Goose : Canada Goose : Greylag Goose
Or on the Ducks: Gadwall : Goldeneye : Goosander : Mallard : Pintail : Pochard : Red Breasted Merganser : Red Crested Pochard : Shellduck : Shoveler : Teal : Tufted Duck : Wigeon
And the rest, in no real order of importance: Common Sandpiper : Coot. : Corncrake : Curlew. : Dunlin : Greenshank : Lapwing : Moorhen : Oystercatcher : Redshank : Ringed Plover : Snipe : Spotted Crake : Stone Curlew : Turnstone : Whimbrel : Woodcock.
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