Ringed Plover calls, United Kingdom, 1960s by The British Library

This is a recording of the call of the ringed plover. Most continental ringed plovers are migratory, but the British plovers move very little all year round. This small, handsome bird is slightly larger and more common than its close relative, the little ringed plover, but differs by having orange legs, no eye ring, and a distinct wing bar when seen in flight. In winter, the ringed plover is typically found on coastal beaches and shingle ridges, and although most pairs also breed close to the coast, birds are being found breeding inland with increasing frequency as they colonise sand and gravel pits. Like other plovers, the ringed plover feeds by eyesight, often making a short run before pausing to snatch a small crustacean, marine snail, worm, or insect with its short bill. The ringed plover is often seen singly or in small groups, but also chooses the company of other small waders such as dunlin and sanderling. Breeding begins in April and the nest-site is nothing more than a small scrape in the open or amongst sparse vegetation. In order to avoid predators, the three to four eggs are beautifully camouflaged. There are approximately 8,500 pairs breeding in Britain, but due to an influx from the continent the wintering population may reach as high as 32,000 birds.

Shelf mark
W1CDR0001381 BD1

Subjects
Birds

Recording date
1960s

Recording locations
OS Grid Reference(641500,323500)

Recordist
Shove, Lawrence

Species
Ringed Plover, Charadrius hiaticula

Image reference https://www.flickr.com/photos/katechka/34779409962 (Ekaterina Chernetsova)