Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
A sturdy, medium-sized plover with a thick bill, greyish-white upperparts, and a distinctive black “armpit” patch under the wing in flight. In breeding plumage, the underparts are mainly black, bordered by white.
- Habitat: Tidal mudflats, sandy beaches, rocky shores; also saltmarsh or estuarine edges.
- When to See: Winter and migration periods; most numerous from autumn through early spring.
- Diet / Food: Mostly marine worms, small crustaceans, and other intertidal invertebrates probed from soft ground.
- Length: 27–30 cm