European Golden-Plover

1/125s at f8.0, ISO:1250, Canon EOS-1D X w/800mm, x1.4 converter


The Europen Golden Plover has an extremely large range. This species is fully migratory but may only move short distances in some regions (del Hoyo et al. 1996). It breeds from May to August (Hayman et al. 1986) in solitary pairs (Hayman et al. 1986, del Hoyo et al. 1996), adults leaving the breeding grounds before the juveniles between July and August (Hayman et al. 1986). The return migration in the spring peaks between April and early-May (Hayman et al. 1986). The species feeds in small flocks during the breeding season, but on passage and in winter feeding flocks of tens to thousands of individuals may occur. Its diet consists predominantly of insects. The nest is a shallow scrape on bare ground in flat, sparse areas with short vegetation. The species is a solitary nester, although in optimal habitats neighboring pairs may nest only a few hundred meters apart (del Hoyo et al. 1996).
Iceland
 
06/02/2013