Sat in the Parrinder hide at Titchwell the other day I was photographing a pair of Little Ringed Plover. I noticed the male was ‘foot trembling’ whilst feeding. I have seen other waders, such as Lapwings, use this technique to presumably attract prey species to the surface but I’ve never seen it in use by a LRP before. BWP (Birds of the Western Palearctic) does not mention it either (as far as I can see). Here’s a short video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PN-Gh9–tk
This pair of Little Ringed Plover were in spring mode last week … eggs next.
The easterly element in the winds has brought in spring migrants a-plenty.
On this weekends tour into Essex we found several returning birds. Among the Hobby, Arctic Tern, Common Terns, House Martins, Swallows, Sand Martins, Yellow Wagtails, Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps, Garden Warbler, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs there was a very confiding Little Ringed Plover. However the icing on the cake had to be the 7 or 8 daytime singing Nightingales we saw.
Three Little ringed Plovers were sparring with one another the other day. Things were getting a little agitated. I suspect the consternation centred around who was going to mate with whom. Anyways, amid the whole ‘she’s my woman’ thing one of the plovers tilted it’s head and looked up. A sure sign of a raptor. I looked up too. It was a Marsh Harrier passing through. maybe next time it’ll be an Osprey :0)
Letter From Norfolk 