Plovers & Lapwings in Kent

5 species matching this filter.

All birds in KentView family page

Kent's diverse coastal habitats, estuaries, and farmland provide excellent opportunities for observing plovers and lapwings throughout the year. Five species from this family have been recorded in the county, including the charismatic Northern Lapwing on arable fields and marshes, and the striking Golden Plover and Grey Plover on mudflats and coastal grasslands. Key sites such as the Thames Estuary, Elmley Marshes, and Dungeness offer some of the best chances to encounter these wading birds in impressive numbers.

Little Ringed Plover
Little Ringed PloverSmallest · 14cm
to
Northern Lapwing
Northern LapwingLargest · 31cm
Ranges from the Little Ringed Plover (14cm) to the Northern Lapwing (31cm)4 year-round residents
Golden Plover

Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricariaLC

Winters in large flocks on arable fields and marshes. Scarce in summer but returns from July onwards.

Jul–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Grey Plover

Grey Plover

Pluvialis squatarolaLC

Found year-round on Kent's estuarine mudflats, especially the Thames, Medway and Swale. Numbers peak in winter with Continental arrivals.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Charadrius dubiusLC

An uncommon summer breeder favouring Kent's gravel pits and reservoir margins. Arrives from March and departs by September.

Mar–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Northern Lapwing

Northern Lapwing

Vanellus vanellusNT

A familiar resident of farmland and marshes year-round. Winter flocks gather on the North Kent Marshes in good numbers.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticulaLC

An uncommon resident breeding on shingle beaches and coastal margins. Numbers bolstered in passage periods at sites like Dungeness.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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