Grey Plover

The Grey Plover, called Black-bellied Plover in the Americas, is a large plover measuring 27–30 centimetres with a 71–83-centimetre wingspan. Breeding adults have spotted black-and-white upperparts, a black face, neck, breast, and belly, and a white border along the dark face. The rump is white and the white tail is barred black. Winter birds are much plainer grey above with a speckled breast and white belly, while juveniles show creamy-edged dark back feathers. (Wikipedia, Grey Plover account)

Grey Plovers breed in Arctic regions and migrate long distances to a nearly worldwide coastal non-breeding range. Away from the breeding grounds they forage mainly on beaches and tidal flats, locating prey by sight. Their food includes small molluscs, polychaete worms, crustaceans, and insects. Feeding birds are less tightly gregarious than other Pluvialis plovers and often spread widely across the shore, each separated from its neighbours. At high tide, however, they gather into dense communal roosting flocks when exposed feeding areas are covered. (Wikipedia, Grey Plover account)