June 26th

There was a small group of ringed plover on Balcomie Beach this morning including two juveniles. It’s good to know that they have bred successfully. I can’t be sure that they are a local pair but it seems likely. Balcomie Beach is not a disturbed beach – walkers on the coastal path will, by choice, avoid the pebbles at the top where a ringed plover is likely to breed and even on a beautiful day like today few people choose (or perhaps more accurately find) this lovely beach. There was a bright orange and black turnstone with the ringed plovers, coming south or going north I can’t say at this time of year. There are plenty of curlews back on the rocky shore though – failed breeders with obvious gaps on their wings and so well into post-breeding moult.

A young ringed plover