Flock of waders, Dundee, Scotland 19/9/24 (1 Viewer)

[Stonefaction]

Photographed this rather distant flock of waders heading west upriver (Tay) from Riverside Nature Park in the west end of Dundee, Scotland on the 19/9/24. Looking at the photos my initial thought was Golden Plover - loose flock structure, pale underwing just visible on a few individual birds and no obvious white on upper wing, as well as the overall 'feel' of the birds - though distance and resolution may well play a part in what is/isn't visible (or my impressions of what is/isn't). My other thought is potentially Knot - there is at least one bird that appears to look structurally like a Knot in "...457 (2)" lower right, top of group. Golden Plover isn't common at all on the estuary these days (though we have had the odd single bird drop in a few times in recent years), but we have had a flock of Knot of up to 60 birds recently. Just wondering what others opinions are. It may well be the case that there is no overall consensus as the photos are very poor.

 

[Stonefaction]

Didn't get any comments back in September on the first batch of photos, so here's a few more. I need one more species to reach my target of 150 species from within Dundee this year....and I do still need Golden Plover. Golden Plover is what I thought they looked like, and it is also the most common suggestion elsewhere (so far), but there's a still an element of doubt, so the more opinions the better. All opinions on what they look like....or even if you think they should be left unidentifiable, welcome.

 

[KenM]

If they looked like “long-winged” pigeons? in the field so to speak Stone-faction, I’d think probably.

Cheers

 

[THE_FERN]

Could be almost anything including plovers. Not possible to id I think

 

[FormerMemberfor15years]

Black-winged Pratincoles

(humour)

 

[martyrynin]

Fwiw my first instinct was Golden Plover (before I saw your comment) but I definitely woudn't ID personally on those photos!

 

[Stonefaction]

Thanks everyone for your input (and Merry Xmas too). Golden Plover was my thought at the time, and is also the most common suggestion by a long way (though Jackdaw has been suggested on facebook - they were definitely waders though). The relatively loose structure of the flock was one of the supporting factors in my initial thoughts, and the original photos do not appear to show any hint of any sort of longer bill, which again supports plovers over Godwits, Redshanks etc. (They also weren't in any great hurry, which is probably of no consequence). There's no obvious white visible on wings - though image quality could well be the reason for that. I do think they probably are/were Golden Plover but there's enough personal doubt to not put them down as a definite.