Male in Winter
The Golden Plover is the only true wader species available as wildfowling quarry, others were available but were removed for various reasons. The Golden plovers winter habitat is often far from estuaries on inland fields, Curlews which are protected are often seen feeding in the same field as the Plover. The Goldie feeds with a run and snatch style, feeding on beetles, worms, slugs and fly lava in the fields but tending to feed on small molluscs on the foreshore. The foreshore is usually a substitute feeding area except during freezing conditions and is used mainly for roosting purposes. Breeding areas are usually moor land or tundra the nest being made in a dip in the ground among grass or other vegetation. The Goldie has a dark gold tinted back and a white wing bar, its flight is fast and when landing it tends to glide holding the wings up for a brief time before folding them. A robust looking bird with long narrow wings. the head is nearly bullet shaped and is very noticeable in flight. When at rest the Goldie appears to have a large puffed up chest. Lots of other waders inhabitat the foreshore areas be sure that it is a Goldie before you pull the trigger.