Blending into the background: Golden Plovers on the North York Moors

I’m no expert on bird identification, but I think these birds are Golden plover (Pluvialis squatarola) in their winter plumage.

I didn’t notice them at first, a flock of about a dozen birds, until they suddenly flew up fifty meters or so in front of me, their white underwings flashing as they flew closely together with the wind. They circled around and landed on the ground, where, once again, their golden feathers with black markings made them blend in with the heather stubble background.

Golden plovers are wading birds, which are species of birds with long legs that feed in shallow water. They are one of several wader species that breed on the North York Moors, along with Lapwing, Curlew, and Snipe. During the spring and summer, Golden plovers can be found on the moorland and along the moorland/farmland edge (in-bye). They nest on the ground and prefer shorter vegetation, so they can see predators approaching¹‘Golden Plover: North York Moors National Park’. 2023. North York Moors National Park <https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/discover/moorland/moorland-plants-and-wildlife/golden-plover> [accessed 22 March 2023].

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  ‘Golden Plover: North York Moors National Park’. 2023. North York Moors National Park <https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/discover/moorland/moorland-plants-and-wildlife/golden-plover> [accessed 22 March 2023]