Tanholt Pit Plovers

I planned to do a quick cycling trip to Tanholt Pit today, but ended watching a plover for ages trying to confirm its identity. I hadn’t got my scope with me.
There’s an increasing amount of mud being exposed on the northern pit, and it does provide a small feeding area for passage waders. So far in spring this year, I have seen black tailed godwit, little ringed plover, common sandpiper, lapwing and oystercatcher here. Not bad for a little known inland site. Autumn passage might be quite good here if the water level drops further.

As I arrived, there were two plovers together with a smart dunlin. One of the plovers flew off - no wing bar - little ringed plover. The other stayed put. It was larger than the dunlin and had orangey legs, and no sign of a lemon eye ring. The bill was orange with a black tip.

I waited for ages for it to preen or fly to show a wing bar. Eventually it had a stretch and showed a wing bar. First ringed plover for me on this site since 2013, and only my 6th record here. (38 site records for Little ringed plover).
The delays meant I got soaked by a heavy shower going home.

Cuckoos, Cettis and red kites were other highlights

From Collins Guide