White-tailed Plover

White-tailed Plover in Dumfries & Galloway; 10th June 2007

My pager ‘mega alerted’ I assumed it would be some out of reach rare in Kent or on Shetland. However I could not believe my eyes when I read the message ‘WHITE-TAILED PLOVER at Caerlaverock’. Well Fuck me I swore!

Next the stress levels rose, Kath was out and she had the Car. I even phoned Tom who lived near Manchester to see if he could pick up en route – he was also trying desperately to get a lift!

Then suddenly Kath arrived; I instructed her to keep her coat on as we were heading to Caerlaverock! Whilst driving through Carlisle Roy called me on my mobile. He was keen to go for the bird so we arranged to meet in Gretna services. I arrived at the services still high on adrenaline and met up with Roy. After a bit of an accidental detour we were back on track to Caerlaverock. A run walk run walk walk later and we were in the hide watching the first twitchable White-tailed Plover in the UK since 1975! What a bird!

My pics do not do this stunning and elegant bird justice! I watched this bird with child like excitement until the pushing and shoving; farting and beef and onion pie stench of a cramped hide got the better of me!

What a bird!