Pacific, American or Eurasian...?

The last time I saw a non-European Golden Plover was longer than I care to remember but what I do recall is how blooming difficult they can be when they are on their own with no reference to our normal Golden Plover. Various clinchers such as greyish underwing and call really help but this morning that wasn't happening.

Norfolk has hosted a number of Pacific Golden Plovers in the last few weeks so I felt I should at least have a stab at one of the local ones that had been at Wells for the last few days. I arrived at North Point after dropping Tom at work to find myself the only person there - lovely yet a bit daunting. It had recently been seen on the west pools so great as the light was behind me. On those pools I saw a couple of Greenshanks, at least one Wood Sandpiper and I suspect probably two plus half a dozen Green Sandpipers and two Spoonbills. But no Golden Plover of any sort. The East Pools were directly into the light so difficult viewing, but plenty of Ruff and some 17 Snipe. Then a Golden Plover - now as to which one it was ? Probability pointed to Pacific as it had been there for the last few days, this bird also was a moulting adult so surely it had to be. I've been caught out badly in the past by auto suggestion so was determined to identify it properly starting from the beginning.

First thing to do was rule out our normal Golden Plover.......... I recall people saying that at this time of the year if you see a Golden Plover in adult plumage then it's most likely to be Pacific or American, but first things first - why was it different to this pictured below (Eurasian Golden Plover - Norway)

The first thing that struck me was it's longer legged and more attenuated structure. The bill looked heavier but given it was so long ago I'd last seen one there was only one option - google ! For me sadly not at North Point.

If it flew I'd see the grey underwing but it was feeding and sleeping. I decided to take a few record shots as it was into the light and quite distant.

I'm constantly amazed at how well modern cameras can cope with "zooming in" so here and I realise it's a bit fuzzy is a blow up...........

Although this pic doesn't show it well the bill looked quite thick and the bird looked overall lanky. I couldn't remember what the tail projection and primary thing was all about but looking at the long tertails and I was getting quite happy it was the previous sighted Pacific GP.

A few people arrived and I pointed out the bird hoping no one would disagree and then Richard Webb turned up who enlightened me to the under tail covert id feature - that being Eurasain GP are all white and USA/Pacific have some black in them - Phew another nailing feature. I was now very happy and about to post on the local app when a Common Crane ( easier to identify ) turned up and flushed absolutely everything !

I returned home for late breakfast and set about some notes...........

As I write this some 21 Swallows have appeared on the telegraph wires outside the house a mixture of adults and young - equally as nice a birding moment as North Point this morning, less challenging but a great reminder of the wonder of migration........