TUNDRA RINGED PLOVER

The northern race of Ringed Plover (Tundra Ringed Plover) has been recorded at a variety of sites in Britain. My own experience of them comes from birds seen in Norfolk in the '90's where we considered them to be regular if scarce migrants (Google 'Tundra Ringed Plover' for records). The problem with 'tundrae' identification is that there isn't a nice neat cut off between this race and the familiar 'hiaticula' but a clinal change with intergrades between the two. However, a combination of appearance, feather wear and 'jizz' should nail most individuals, especially when the two races are present allowing for a comparison. As well as being smaller and darker than 'normal' Ringed Plover, they are quicker in movement, giving the impression of a chick or maybe a Kentish Plover as they dash about. They can be really quite distinct, especially if compared to a lumbering, pale 'hiaticula' Ringed Plover. Additionally, Tundra Ringed Plover has a different moult pattern to 'hiaticula'; unlike nominate birds they undergo a complete moult on wintering grounds - so fresh flight feathers in spring can be a helpful indication of 'tundrae' and worth looking for if you have an interesting Ringed Plover. My interest in this form of Ringed Plover as a Pembs bird goes back about ten years to a record of three of them (with a 'hiaticula' bird for a neat contrast) on the beach at Fishguard. I think it was 2002. I sent the record in for the Report at the time but they became generic Ringed Plovers. Tundra Ringed Plovers can and do occur here in Pembs and are maybe worth bearing in mind when looking for a rare American close relative. I think we should record them anyway. What's to lose? (Photo courtesy of Dick Philby)