The Pacific golden plover is a migratory shorebird that breeds during Alaska and Siberia summers. During nonbreeding season, this medium-sized plover migrates widely across the Pacific.
Similar species: Shorebirds And Allies
By Thibaud Aronson
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Uploaded Nov 18, 2021. Captured Oct 21, 2021 10:40 in PR22+5W Riumar, Spain.
comments (2)
And yet, as I was driving back to my hotel, I stopped by a random field with a number of lapwings. I didn't even leave the car, scanning the flock with my binoculars, and instantly landed on this pair of plovers, maybe 20 meters from me.
The one on the right appeared noticeably smaller and slimmer, with a somewhat different feather pattern, and my heart started to beat faster, but I stuck with them for an hour, until the whole flock took off, and I was able to see its distinctive underwing pattern to confirm it was indeed what I thought it was!
It was incredible luck to stumble upon this rare vagrant at a very close distance, literally side by side with its common European cousin, allowing a direct comparison. In any other circumstance, I would have completely missed it! Posted 3 years ago, modified 3 years ago