Wednesday 21 May 2014

Wild Bird Wednesday 97 - Red-Capped Plover

The Red-Capped plover is another bird I associate with sandy beaches - although it does not seem to have the appetite for the same rough ocean swells as the Hooded plover from last week.

Having said this, these images were taken on the edge of a partially tidal lake - not really an estuary, but not far enough up into the freshwater to be a river - a real half way house.

For once, the scientific name of this bird makes obvious sense - Charadrius ruficapillus - even if "ruficapillus" actually does mean "red-haired".  (Given the sort of hair my family have, this bird has just moved up a few places in my favourites list!)

This bird is in the same genus Ringed and Little-Ringed Plovers which are more widespread around the world.

At  14-16cm long this is not a large bird - but its fast running habits make it rather conspicuous at times.  As you can see from the foot marks in the sand around this birds feet, there has been a lot of running in this area.

This chap is a male - the dark line at the "shoulder" and the clear black lines around the "fox red" cap separate him from the female.




Now its over to you - click on the link button below and off you go.  Get your "editing heads" on as I think I'm going to use WBW 100 (in 3 weeks) as a chance for people to repost their favourite shot that they have shared through the first 100 WBWs.  Cheers SM

51 comments:

  1. so adorable!

    (favorite link-up? ugh!)

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  2. I am on the fly this morning so I will come back to comment tonight or tomorrow. Love your little Red Headed Plover ... I can see the resemblance :)

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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  3. Nice to see your pictures! I think this bird only lives in Australia (I've used Wikipedia)
    Greetings Pia

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  4. Love the photos Stewart. It always amazes me how long plover's legs are! They must be great at balancing. I would topple over.

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  5. So pretty all decked out in glorious colors!!

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  6. ps...100th WBW for you hosting already?!!! How exciting. Congrats Stewart

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  7. Very distinguished head-dress.

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  8. Hij staat er geweldig mooi op Stewart.

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  9. They have the best coloured heads. From Findlay

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  10. They have the best coloured heads. From Findlay

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  11. Sorry I have been missing for a week or two Stewart. An enforced holiday myou understand!

    I often see the Red-capped Plover on Australian blogs and just as you comment, it is a obvious) relation to LRP and Ringed Plover. As such it is one i would love to experience but certainly will not. Just as well I have your super pictures to consult.

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  12. Good idea for a best of anniversary post. I know I've enjoyed this link up a lot. And learned a lot too.

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  13. Cute bird and great photos.

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  14. Great photo of the Red-capped Plover. I saw some out in western Queensland a couple of years ago - on one of the lakes out there - so I guess they will stay wherever there is enough water.

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  15. oh he is so cute!! beautiful photos of this little guy!

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  16. The soft ochry red on his head and black line contrast create the cutest design on this gorgeous little one's face. Lovely photos.

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  17. Hi Stewart, he's a very smart looking fellow with his red cap :D)

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  18. Good looking bird! I like the black stripe running through the eyes!

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  19. Beautiful bird
    in lovely colors

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  20. He is a cute little bird, wonderful photos of him. I love his contrasting colours.

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  21. It is a long time since I've seen a plover

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  22. the red-capped plover photos are really clear Stewart; it's not always easy to get up close enough...lovely series

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  23. A striking little shorebird! Great shots.

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  24. This is another interesting plover in the series of plovers. And the name makes sense!:)

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  25. Cool bird! Hope to see one some day.

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  26. He's a handsome fella!

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  27. Nice photos! What a pretty bird!

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  28. Nice of him to pose for you so nicely. Well done Stewart.

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  29. Looks like he's wearing his winter watch cap. Nice shots. MB

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  30. Beautiful photos of this plover, this species is not in the Netherlands
    Perfect photographed Stewart, compliments.
    Greetings Irma

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  31. So cute and colorful! I think I'm a plover lover...
    Nice photos Stewart!

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  32. Hi Stewart This is a lovely little bird to see and these are good shots. I have seen them up the central coast a few years ago but they were quite far away

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  33. Sorry, I meant to also say. MANY THANKS FOR HOSTING'

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  34. Pretty colors! Nice series!

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  35. Darling little bird with a red cap!

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  36. Splendid photographs of a beautiful Plover, Stewart!

    I suspect you got a lot of sand in your shoes (and elsewhere!) to get these shots. Thank you for sharing a new species for me.

    Have a great weekend!

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  37. What a cute little fellow!

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  38. Excellent Plover photos, love it.

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  39. i just found this page through a fellow blogger at sky friday: such great photos, and a wonderful variety. thanks for sharing all those winged moments. greetings from Germany!

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  40. Oh just love the red head on this little fluff ball -- what a beautiful plover.

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  41. I love his crop of short rusty red "hair"...he's adorable! I joined in again, just a short "teaser" from our Madera Canyon trip. There' will be many more pictures to come!

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  42. Nicely colored bird. Our representatives mostly lack such highlights.

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  43. A charming bird, Stewart and one I missed out on during my Australian trip. More than a passing resemblance to the Black Fronted Dotterel which stole my heart!

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  44. What a striking plover and great photos of the little guy, Stewart. We have nothing like this bird here. I am thinking of becoming envious of your colorful specimens.

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  45. it´s a beautiful little plover. :)

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