Waterford Ireland Flock of Birds (1 Viewer)

[TeamLeip]

I saw this flock flying low over the water. I was at the tip of Little Island in Waterford but they were fast moving and I could not get a better picture. There is not much to work with but any help is appreciated.

 

[pianoman]

Here is a crop if it can be of any use. I can't figure anything out; think that most of the apparent white markings come from light effects. It would help to know some general impressions from the field - did they look gull sized, swallow sized etc. and did they fly like gulls or something else. Did you see white markings in the field.

 

[TeamLeip]

Here is a crop if it can be of any use. I can't figure anything out; think that most of the apparent white markings come from light effects. It would help to know some general impressions from the field - did they look gull sized, swallow sized etc. and did they fly like gulls or something else. Did you see white markings in the field.

They were brown to tan on top and white below. The flock flew low and along the water in a very fluid flapping manner. I would say they were just a bit smaller than the black headed gulls in the area. There were many gulls in the area but they were not flocking together. I knew this was a long shot but I am still a birding novice. Thanks for your time!

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Hard to be sure but my money would be on European Golden Plovers. Did you also hear a soft single note whistling call?

 

[pianoman]

Hard to be sure but my money would be on European Golden Plovers. Did you also hear a soft single note whistling call?

Not a bad call Andrew. If they are indeed waders then the relative lack of markings on the upper side narrows the field, and it is the time of year for mass movements of GP

 

[TeamLeip]

Hard to be sure but my money would be on European Golden Plovers. Did you also hear a soft single note whistling call?

They were too far away to hear anything

 

[TeamLeip]

Not a bad call Andrew. If they are indeed waders then the relative lack of markings on the upper side narrows the field, and it is the time of year for mass movements of GP

The flock stayed very close to the water. After I got that one shot, they flew below the bank presumably landing at the waters edge.