Golden Plover

The Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) is a medium-sized wading bird belonging to the family Charadriidae. It is recognized for its striking breeding plumage: adults have a golden-spotted back, black face, breast, and belly, bordered by a white stripe running from the forehead to the flanks. In winter, their plumage becomes more muted, with pale grayish-brown feathers and a white underside. Juveniles resemble the winter adults but with more speckled upperparts. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) code for the Golden Plover is GP.

Golden Plovers inhabit open moorlands and uplands during the breeding season, typically found in the UK’s northern and western regions. Outside the breeding season, they move to lowland areas, including coastal and inland farmland, estuaries, and mudflats, often forming large flocks that may include Lapwings. Golden Plovers feed primarily on invertebrates, such as insects, earthworms, and mollusks, as well as plant material like seeds and berries during winter.

Golden Plovers breed from May to July. They nest on the ground, creating shallow scrapes lined with vegetation, often in heather, moss, or grass on upland moors. Clutches usually consist of 3-4 buff-colored eggs with dark blotches, incubated by both parents for about 26-28 days. Chicks are precocial, leaving the nest shortly after hatching and being cared for by the parents until fledging, which occurs at around 30-35 days. After the breeding season, many UK Golden Plovers migrate to continental Europe, although some remain in lowland Britain during the winter months.The UK winter population swells with migrants from Iceland and Scandinavia, totaling up to 420,000 individuals. The resident breeding population is estimated at around 38,000 pairs, concentrated in Scotland, northern England, and Wales.

The Golden Plover is listed as Amber on the Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC) 5, reflecting concerns about habitat loss and population declines in parts of its range. The species is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which prohibits the destruction of their nests, eggs, or young. Threats include upland habitat degradation, overgrazing, drainage of moorland for agriculture, afforestation, and climate change, which can alter their breeding and foraging environments.

Efforts to conserve Golden Plovers focus on protecting and restoring their breeding habitats, such as peatlands and heather moorlands, by promoting sustainable land management practices. Agri-environment schemes encourage practices like controlled grazing and rewetting of moorland to maintain suitable conditions for nesting and feeding. For wintering populations, the protection of coastal and farmland habitats is vital. Public awareness campaigns about the importance of maintaining natural uplands and preventing habitat destruction contribute to the long-term survival of this iconic species. Supporting research and monitoring helps track population trends and assess the effectiveness of conservation measures.