Plovers & Lapwings in Cumbria
5 species matching this filter.
Cumbria's diverse landscapes, from the Solway Firth's expansive mudflats to the upland fells of the Lake District, provide vital habitats for five species of plovers and lapwings. The Northern Lapwing is a familiar sight across the county's farmland and wetland meadows, while passage migrants such as the Grey Plover and Golden Plover can be observed in impressive flocks along the coast. The Little Ringed Plover, a scarce summer visitor, breeds at select gravel and reservoir sites, making it a prized sighting for local birders.
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricariaLC
Breeds on high Cumbrian fells and moorland in summer. In winter, flocks gather on lowland fields and coastal marshes.
Year-round
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to Cumbria's estuaries, mainly seen on the Solway and Morecambe Bay mudflats outside summer months.
Aug–Apr
Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubiusLC
A rare summer breeder on gravel pits and riverine shingle banks. Arrives in April and departs by August.
Apr–Aug
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
An uncommon but declining resident of farmland and wetland, with winter flocks gathering on coastal fields.
Year-round
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
An uncommon resident of shingle beaches and estuarine shores. Breeds along the coast and passage birds boost autumn numbers.
Year-round