Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus

A rare visitor to the UK from the Mediterranean with most records being spring overshoots appearing on the south coast. Formerly (up to 1935) they bred in SE England and there have been breeding attempts in Norfolk, the last in 1983.

This species occurred annually in Norfolk until recently but has become scarcer of late. Breydon Water is by far the best site for this species.

Scroll down for the North American form, Snowy Plover.

Kentish Plover, Castro Marim, 30-Apr-06 Kentish Plover, Castro Marim, 30-Apr-06
Kentish Plover, Castro Marim, 30-Apr-06 Kentish Plover, Castro Marim, 30-Apr-06

male Kentish Plover, Castro Marim (Algarve, Portugal), 30th April 2006

 
Kentish Plover, Faro, 15-Apr-06 Kentish Plover, Faro, 15-Apr-06
Kentish Plover, Faro, 15-Apr-06 Kentish Plover, Faro, 15-Apr-06

pair of Kentish Plovers, ETAR Waterworks, Montenegro, Faro (Algarve, Portugal), 15th April 2006

 
Kentish Plover, Ludo, 29-Apr-06 Kentish Plover, Ludo, 29-Apr-06

male Kentish Plover, Ludo Farm (Algarve, Portugal), 29th April 2006

 
Kentish Plover, Castro Marim, 26-Apr-06 Kentish Plover, Castro Marim, 26-Apr-06

female Kentish Plover, Ludo Farm (Algarve, Portugal), 29th April 2006

 
Kentish Plover, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10 Kentish Plover, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10
Kentish Plover, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10 Kentish Plover, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10
Kentish Plover, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10 Kentish Plover, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10
Kentish Plover, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10 Kentish Plover, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10

Kentish Plovers, Göksu Delta (Turkey), 9th May 2010

 
Kentish Plover, Camargue, 1-May-99 Kentish Plover, Camargue, 25-May-00

Kentish Plover, Camargue (Bouche-du-Rhone), 1st May 1999

 

Kentish Plover, Camargue (Bouche-du-Rhone), 25th May 2000

 

Snowy Plover Charadrius (alexandrinus) nivosus

The North American form of Kentish Plover has yet to confirmed in Europe. However, identification criteria seem not to be well established and it is quite possible that some records may be overlooked, or remain unproven even if suspected.

Snowy Plover was formerly treated as a race of Kentish Plover but many authorities now regard them as separate species. Even the conservative BOU have now (as of autumn 2011) adopted the split.

Snowy Plover, Davis Road, 24-Apr-05 Snowy Plover, Davis Road, 24-Apr-05
Snowy Plover, Davis Road, 24-Apr-05  

Snowy Plover, Davis Road, SE Salton Sea (California, USA), 24th April 2005