Waders - Firth of Forth, Scotland (1 Viewer)

[TomMalcC]

Please would some help identify these waders. Taken today. A flock of about 150 on the midtide line.

I was thinking sandpipers. But the books are playing with my mind.

TomC
Edinburgh

 

[Evan Atkinson]

All are European Golden Plovers, with 2929 showing some dunlins.

Evan

 

[TomMalcC]

All are European Golden Plovers, with 2929 showing some dunlins.

Evan

Thanks Evan. Was the short beak length part of your identification process ?

 

[THE_FERN]

(appear similar to other plovers but larger—i.e. dumpy, rounded appearance. Here, apart from rarities, most common confusion species is grey plover. That too can show golden spangles but they are never as bright as here. Its bill is usually obviously thicker and more robust.)

 

[Butty]

...and the flying birds (assuming they're the same ones) have whitish axillaries (a contrasting black patch in grey plover). This will be illustrated in your field guide.