RINGED PLOVER 



hiaticula 



Ringed Plover is a pretty generally distributed resident 

 in all suitable localities throughout the British Islands, 

 and is commonest on the gravelly and sandy sea-coasts, 

 though in some inland districts it is found in considerable 

 numbers on the gravelly shores of our lochs and larger 

 rivers. Where the ground is suitable to its habits it is 

 found on most of the islands off our coasts, including 

 the Orkneys, Shetlands, and the Outer Hebrides. 



The favourite haunts of the Ringed Plover are on the sandy parts of our 

 coasts, especially at the mouths of rivers where there are large stretches of 

 sand covered with shells or banks of shingle; they are also found on the 

 shores of many of our inland lochs and on the gravelly reaches of many of 

 the larger rivers. On the Culbin Sands in Morayshire they are very plentiful 

 as well as on the gravel beds on the Spey and Findhorn, miles from the 

 coast. 



Few of our Waders are so interesting to watch in their movements as 

 the Ringed Plover. They are very wild, wary birds during the winter, but 

 throw off most of their timidity during the breeding-season, at which time 

 they may be approached within a short distance. They are very difficult to 

 see among the small stones on a gravelly beach, so closely does their plumage 

 resemble the colour of the surrounding stones, and their whereabouts is often 

 only discovered as the bird rises almost at the intruder's feet. When feeding 

 on the shore they run with great swiftness of foot, darting after some insect 

 or sandhopper, stopping for a moment to pick up something, and running on 

 again for a few feet, sometimes hurrying along the edge of the water and 

 picking up the tiny marine creatures left by the tide, running in-shore as the 

 waves sweep up the sand, and every now and then taking to their wings as 

 the water rushes round them. 



2 o 141 



