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Grey Plover (Contrary so far)

on the contrary, so far as the writer's experience goes, is seldom seen in flocks; ten or a dozen together is about the usual number. They are not often met with inland, keeping more to the coast and to the mud flats or sand banks at the mouths of rivers, and in tidal harbours. The reason for this may be that, unlike the Golden Plover, the Grey Plover does not breed in the British Islands, and is only to be met with at the period of its migrations in spring and autumn. About the first week in May small parties arrive, chiefly on the south and east coasts of England, on their way northward towards their breeding haunts. By the end of that month they have disappeared, not to return until the end of September or beginning of October, when the old birds are accompanied by their young, which by that time are strong on the wing and are so speckled with yellow that, but for the black axillary feathers and the presence of a small hind toe, they might be easily mistaken for Golden Plovers.

In point of size there is not much differer ence between the two species, the Grey Plover being slightly larger and more robust and having a somewhat stouter bill.

In regard to weight, the Golden Plover,