We currently have some friends’ horses living at Leradale so I check on them daily.  It is nice to go back to Leradale in warmer months. I see the fields with new eyes.  Today I noticed two small birds shouting at me.  They alternatively pipped at each other in two slightly different tones very loudly.  Enough to get my attention.

I think, and I am happy to be corrected, that they were European Golden Plovers (Pluvialis apricaria) in their summer plumage.

Apparently they are widespread breeders in northern Europe, which constitutes >50% of its global breeding range, so that would be in Leradale then.

I am pretty sure they were Mr and Mrs as they did a lot of shouting ….

…. And running around!

They looked like government secretaries with important business to attend to.

I didn’t do too much investigating in case they had a nest somewhere.

But I was pleased to see the birds. We have fields of them in autumn but I have never got close enough before despite trying to creep up on them many times.

So today was my chance for a good look and listen.

Dear little birds but very shouty!