Grey Plover and First Winter Dunlin (1 Viewer)

This is probably a ridiculous question so apologies to start. Most of my birdwatching is in the garden and I'm a bit of a numpty at Bird ID apart from there so please bear with me.

I was down at Oare Marshes today just having a look and I noticed a bird which was a bit like a Grey Plover but might have been a first winter Dunlin. I'm guessing the most obvious difference might be size but it was some way off and on it's own so I'm not sure.

Can someone help me by explaining the easy way to tell them apart.

Thank you kindly

Three things to look for:

1. Length of bill. Grey plover short, stubby, black - Dunlin longer, thinner, also black
2. In flight Grey plover have a very obvious black 'armpit'
3. Both can have black belly feathers left over from summer plumage at the time of year, but Dunlin will usually who some light brown/rufous on the back and wing coverts. Grey plovers often look 'spangled' on the back/coverts.

Also Grey plovers will often feed and move by walking a few steps quickly, then stopping, then walking a few steps, then stopping etc.

Photo of Grey plover below. Google the names and you'll get loads of photos showing the differences.

Mick

P.S. If you have more ID questions I'd post them in the ID forum.

Thanks for your help. I didn't notice the "Bird ID" section so thanks for that too.