KENTISH PLOVER – Charadrius alexandrinus

Kentish Plover despite its name no longer breeds in Britain. It was first named from specimens found at Sandwich in Kent in 1802. The English stronghold was Romney Marsh where up to 40 pairs formerly bred. Nowadays it is lost as a breeding bird due almost entirely to man's activities. It formerly bred in southern England but had declined by the 1920s and was subsequently with the last breeding in Lincolnshire in 1979. Breeding birds in warmer countries are largely sedentary but northern and inland populations are migratory wintering south to the tropics. The word 'plover' originates from Middle English and Anglo-Norman and from the Vulgar Latin 'pluvirius' and Latin 'pluvia' referring to rain and rain bird.

There have been five Kentish Plover's reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;

1947: (1)

On May 4th extremely good views were obtained of a male, in company with a large mixed gathering of Dunlin, Ringed Plover and other waders, at Severn Beach and was still present on May 5th. This occurrence constitutes the first record of this species in S. Gloucestershire. (cf. British Birds, Vol. XL, p. 254).

1949: (1)

On May 10th at Severn Beach a female was seen at close range, among Ringed Plover. (cf. British Birds, Vol. XLIII, p. 23).