Winged Wednesday: 4/8/2026 — Plovers

[Eric Gofreed]

It’s Winged Wednesday—where feathers, flutters, and flight steal the show! Whether they’re soaring, skimming, stalking, or striking a pose… birds, bugs, bats, insects, or even airplanes—if it has wings, we want to see it. If it’s got wings, it belongs here.

Always open theme — all winged photos welcome.

My contributions this week are plovers. Plovers are compact shorebirds known for their stop-and-go feeding style—a quick dash, a pause, then a precise peck at something you didn’t even see move.

They don’t probe like sandpipers.
They hunt by sight.
Big eyes.
Short bills.

American Golden-Plover — Elegant, golden… and mildly concerned about everything.

Snowy Plover — Built like a marshmallow. Moves like a rumor.

Dunlin — Breeding season. Sprinting with purpose. Purpose unclear.

Semipalmated Plover — Feet: partially webbed. Name: completely accurate.

Pied Plover — Name: plover. Reality: lapwing. No one corrected it.

 

[Trent Watts]

Thanks for those gorgeous images Eric. I love the pose on that Semipalmated Plover.

My contribution today completes my images from my trip to BC.
On my way back to Saskatoon I must travel through mountain passes. A serious accident on the road to Jasper closed the highway for over 12 hours with no easy detours. I had an entire afternoon handed to me on a platter so found a local mash and went birding. A most enjoyable day.

There were two observation towers along the walk. At this one I spent about 30 minutes watching and photographing a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet as it flitted about looking for food.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

An American Robin seemed intent on completing the colour scheme offered by the buds on the tree.

A Dark-eyed Junco eating some seeds.

This Common Raven spent a lot of time inspecting this bush. It appeared to be looking for a suitable place to build a nest.

A Song Sparrow.

 

[AlanLichty]

Tough acts to follow as always. Great collection of plovers Eric - I didn't know there were so many variants. Trent's collection looks almost exactly like what lurks around my yard. Neat shots.

I have tons of blooms on my blueberries and was wondering who was doing the pollination deed for my upcoming summer crop of berries. I got my answer this last week:

First up is a Mason Bee:

And also Honey bees:

Just for grins I dug up some shots of Killdeer which I believe are members of the Plover family. Both shots were taken at Mammoth Hot Springs at Yellowstone National Park:

 

[Trent Watts]

Tough acts to follow as always. Great collection of plovers Eric - I didn't know there were so many variants. Trent's collection looks almost exactly like what lurks around my yard. Neat shots.

I have tons of blooms on my blueberries and was wondering who was doing the pollination deed for my upcoming summer crop of berries. I got my answer this last week:

First up is a Mason Bee:

View attachment 88480

And also Honey bees:

View attachment 88481

Just for grins I dug up some shots of Killdeer which I believe are members of the Plover family. Both shots were taken at Mammoth Hot Springs at Yellowstone National Park:

View attachment 88482

View attachment 88483

I love seeing those bees at work Alan. Nice series of the Killdeer as well.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Thanks for those gorgeous images Eric. I love the pose on that Semipalmated Plover.

My contribution today completes my images from my trip to BC.
On my way back to Saskatoon I must travel through mountain passes. A serious accident on the road to Jasper closed the highway for over 12 hours with no easy detours. I had an entire afternoon handed to me on a platter so found a local mash and went birding. A most enjoyable day.

There were two observation towers along the walk. At this one I spent about 30 minutes watching and photographing a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet as it flitted about looking for food.

View attachment 88457

Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
View attachment 88462

An American Robin seemed intent on completing the colour scheme offered by the buds on the tree.
View attachment 88458

A Dark-eyed Junco eating some seeds.
View attachment 88459

This Common Raven spent a lot of time inspecting this bush. It appeared to be looking for a suitable place to build a nest.
View attachment 88460

A Song Sparrow.
View attachment 88461

Stunning bird photography every time, Trent. Thank you for that. All but the song sparrow are yard birds.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Tough acts to follow as always. Great collection of plovers Eric - I didn't know there were so many variants. Trent's collection looks almost exactly like what lurks around my yard. Neat shots.

I have tons of blooms on my blueberries and was wondering who was doing the pollination deed for my upcoming summer crop of berries. I got my answer this last week:

First up is a Mason Bee:

View attachment 88480

And also Honey bees:

View attachment 88481

Just for grins I dug up some shots of Killdeer which I believe are members of the Plover family. Both shots were taken at Mammoth Hot Springs at Yellowstone National Park:

View attachment 88482

View attachment 88483

Thanks Allan. Excellent work as expected. Highest compliments.