Wednesday 27 January 2016

Wild Bird Wednesday 183 - Pacific Golden Plover

The grassy edges flanking the runway of Lord Howe Island airstrip are a bit of a classic viewing point for waders - and all these pictures were taken while I was leaning over the fence trying to get has close as possible to these rather wonderful birds.

Pacific Golden Plovers (Pluvialis fulva) are a summer visitor to Australia - but because we are in the southern hemisphere we only get the birds in their nonbreeding plumage.  It always makes me laugh when I think that I used to call these plumages "winter" and "summer" - for birds that migrate to Australia when they are not breeding both plumages are summer!

Getting ready to go back to work tonight, so I'll keep this post short and let these splendid little, long distance travellers take centre stage.





This final shot was taken in much brighter light at the north end of the island. This bird and its companions were much more flighty than the birds on the runway - so I was not able to get as close.


As ever, it is now over to you to click on the blue button and join in the community that is WBW!

41 comments:

  1. They really are splendid... Their back feathers look edged in gold. I didn't really mean to change my name on my link. My IPad has a hard time reading my mind sometimes. Thanks for hosting, as always.

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  2. Thanks for continuing to introduce us to new birds. This seems to look more like our black-bellied plover than the American golden plover, at least in this plumage. But now I know why we had to add "American" to our golden plover.

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  3. I always love to see Plover ad these are great shots of them. Thanks for hosting.

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  4. You got me so confused about plover migration, that I had to look it up. Pacific Golden Plovers breed in Siberia and then rest or "winter" in Australia and other places southern latitudes. I also found that they make one of the longest flights between breeding and non-breeding grounds.

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  5. Hello Stewart!:) What gorgeous photos of this Plover. Their plumage is really beautiful.

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  6. Good looking birds! There are so few birds here in our northern parts over the winter. Scarcely any seen for months. I can't wait to see and hear them again when they make their way back in the spring. Its rather desolate outdoors!

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  7. Good looking birds! There are so few birds here in our northern parts over the winter. Scarcely any seen for months. I can't wait to see and hear them again when they make their way back in the spring. Its rather desolate outdoors!

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  8. You obtained some nice shots of the plover. I saw it once in Hawaii. We have the American Golden-Plover in Illinois. They never have let me get very close either.

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  9. It's funny...I had some photos of a bird that I was just waiting on confirmation of the i.d. as to whether it was a Golden Plover before posting about it. Now that I see your photos, I know my bird is definitely a plover, but it's a different one. If they could just stay the same colors year-round, it would be ever so helpful LOL! Thanks for sharing your great photos!

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  10. These plovers are striking. Their feathers look like their tinged with gold. I love your grassy runway. I'll link up to your meme tomorrow (Wednesday). Thanks for hosting. Greetings Jo

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  11. Hello, your Golden Plover is a beuatiful bird. Awesome series of photos. Thanks for hosting, enjoy your week!

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  12. Thats a runway !? Great images of a bird that is a very rare visitor to UK, although we did have one in the county last year - but I missed it!

    Best wishes, Stewart. - - - Richard

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  13. Lovely photos of a bird we seldom see looking like that. Diane

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  14. Love seeing them walk along on their long legs.

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  15. The feathers and the coloring is beautiful. It amazes me how gorgeous a bird, large or small, can be.

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  16. Hi Stewart, great photos of the PGP's. Around here we do see Pacific Golden Plovers in almost full breeding plumage right at the end of our summer season, but you have to keep a good watch on them or else they have flown north before you are aware.

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  17. Your bird pictures will always be your piece de resistance, but venturing from them now and then is good for the soul and besides, I think your talent has no bounds. These little Plovers are gorgeous whether in mating colors or not. I love their coloring and all Plovers are just cute. So you are off to work at night? That is not usual is it? I used to work nights at the hospital and loved it, but now, I don't think I could do it. Well, I will be waiting to see what off beat pictures you come up with on your new adventure ... could be fun :)

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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  18. A plover in clover. Or is it just grass. Clover sounds better I think.

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  19. They are pretty birds. Thanks so much for hosting each week.

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  20. Will have to take the kayak down to the bay and see if our Pacific Golden Plovers are still around. Great photos.

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  21. Plovers have made a come back here along the coast...thank goodness. That third photo is GREAT, Stewart!!...:)JP

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  22. Fantastic photos of these beautiful birds! Always wonderful shares, Stewart, and so glad to be part of your link-up!

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  23. Love the 3rd photo from the top!!!

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  24. Stewart, never have seen a Pacific Golden Plover. But have seen an American Golden Plover. Thanks for sharing.

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  25. Wonderful photos of a nice looking bird.

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  26. Pretty feather distribution.....Love the third photo..Enjoy your day...

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  27. The scenery is very beautiful as well as your Pacific Golden Plover,thanks so much for sharing & hosting,phyllis

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  28. Love that third picture for the detail. Pretty!

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  29. How pretty! Great shots, Stewart!

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  30. I never thought about it that way. Summer vs winter. I didn't know they could be found in that part of the world either. Coool!

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  31. Lobvely pictures of this beautiful little bird!

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  32. Beautiful scene and beautiful bird. Carol

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  33. Bom dia, o moedlo é uma linda ave que foi muito bem captada e registada.
    AG

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  34. Great photos Stewart! I like seeing these birds strutting around catching food.

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  35. Great blog Stewart! I will add you to my list! Gr. John from Holland

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