[bicknell64]

Hi could anyone please help with this wader in Essex .

[James Lidster]

European Golden Plover
Cheers
James

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Isn't it a Ruff? The feet seem to project beyond the tail tip.

[Adam W]

Originally Posted by Andrew Whitehouse

Isn't it a Ruff? The feet seem to project beyond the tail tip.

I think you might be right.

[mäkpe]

It's a Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Feet projecting only slightly beyond tail, eye is too big for Ruff and "dominant" like in B-b S, bill is short for Ruff but perfect for B-b S. Breast is buff etc.

[James Lidster]

Makpe - do you not think that the 'crescent' on the underwing of a Buff-breast would be visible?
To me the large eye, underwing pattern, bill point towards a Golden Plover (although from the thumbnail i was expecting a Ruff). As for the foot projection could that be photo effect/tail....or am i alone in my Golden Plover view : (
Cheers
James

[Rob1991S-O-T]

looks like juv golden plover for me

[Jane Turner]

Secondaries look pretty non-contrasting for BBS


http://www.gpnc.org/images/jpegs/ani...andpiperBB.jpg

[Jane Turner]

Originally Posted by James Lidster

Makpe - do you not think that the 'crescent' on the underwing of a Buff-breast would be visible?
To me the large eye, underwing pattern, bill point towards a Golden Plover (although from the thumbnail i was expecting a Ruff). As for the foot projection could that be photo effect/tail....or am i alone in my Golden Plover view : (
Cheers
James

I was expecting a Ruff too, then a debate between Ruff and GP!

[mäkpe]

Originally Posted by James Lidster

Makpe - do you not think that the 'crescent' on the underwing of a Buff-breast would be visible?
To me the large eye, underwing pattern, bill point towards a Golden Plover (although from the thumbnail i was expecting a Ruff). As for the foot projection could that be photo effect/tail....or am i alone in my Golden Plover view : (
Cheers
James

Actually i think i can see the crescent, but i may be wrong - i'm not sure how it should be showing :)
Anyway, I didn't even consider GP because what I see is a buff breast. Also, bill and eye creates Buff-breasted-like appereance for me.

[nickderry]

Originally Posted by James Lidster

Makpe - do you not think that the 'crescent' on the underwing of a Buff-breast would be visible?
To me the large eye, underwing pattern, bill point towards a Golden Plover (although from the thumbnail i was expecting a Ruff). As for the foot projection could that be photo effect/tail....or am i alone in my Golden Plover view : (
Cheers
James

I'm with golden plover, the large eye as you say is a good pointer, also the pattern (some barring) on the sides of the breast looks better for gp.

[Dermot Breen]

Golden Plover for me too.

Dermot

[Parker]

An interesting bird, my gut reaction on opening the 2nd image was Buff Breasted Sandpiper as the plumage features seem to fit, well to my eyes. The bill looks the right lenght & the open faced friendly look to the head would also fit but after reading the comments of others I'm not so sure!

Cheers, Neil.

[mäkpe]

This would certainly be the first Golden Plover with buff breast that i see. It still looks B-b sand for me. I looked at these photos from three different screens and the breast remains buff.
Secondaries looks contrasting enough for me, but too much contrasting for GP.
Breast looks uniformly coloured and there's absolutely no markings on flanks or breastsides wich should be the case with GP.
Tail shape is another indicator of Buff-breasted; quite long and gets narrower towards tail tip. There's excelent pic of 1cy GP for comparison.

[Espen]

GP for me

[Parker]

Originally Posted by mäkpe

This would certainly be the first Golden Plover with buff breast that i see. It still looks B-b sand for me. I looked at these photos from three different screens and the breast remains buff.
Secondaries looks contrasting enough for me, but too much contrasting for GP.
Breast looks uniformly coloured and there's absolutely no markings on flanks or breastsides wich should be the case with GP.
Tail shape is another indicator of Buff-breasted; quite long and gets narrower towards tail tip. There's excelent pic of 1cy GP for comparison.

Also isn't the bill a little too long for GP.

Neil.

[mäkpe]

Originally Posted by Parker

Also isn't the bill a little too long for GP.

Neil.

IMO it is.

[Jane Turner]

But not Ruff

[mäkpe]

Ruff has feet projection faaaar behind the tail :) See f.e. here.
Large eye excludes the Ruff as well.

[Jane Turner]

And underwing pattern excludes BBS, so we are left with something looking slightly odd in the photograph.... and which is more likely.

We have heated debate between Dotterel and Ruff not that long ago, which does suggest that photos can be tough to judge!

[mäkpe]

Well, underwing pattern looks ok for B-b Sand IMO.

[Motmot]

Underwings:

http://www.gpnc.org/images/jpegs/ani...andpiperBB.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wZFsCUeV27...piper+show+off

[mäkpe]

One more
http://www.pbase.com/otto1/image/115854324

[redeyedvideo]

Originally Posted by Jane Turner

We have heated debate between Dotterel and Ruff not that long ago,

And Dotterel & Golden Plover before that...

I think the buffy breast is an effect of the low evening light, GP for me.

[Lappkrabben]

Underwing pattern looks better for EGP in my opinion.

What i first focused on where the long sharp wings.