Flock of bird identification

[spikeislander]

Sorry if wrong thread but stumped, I was spraying a block today and saw in front what I thought was a covey of partridges running in front.
But realised there was way too many about 30 - 40 , they then took to the wing and they were very agile with swept back wings curved to a point.
Not a great description , I think they are possibly just passing by us?
So look like partridge on the ground but not on the wing and flew together very agile.
Thanks for help I’ve googled without much success .
Bedfordshire

 

[Spencer]

Curlew?

 

[Laggard]

Golden plover?

 

[Foxcover]

Quite a bit smaller than a partridge but could be fieldfare?

 

[spikeislander]

Not field fare , I thought maybe golden plover .
I’ll look at video of flying

 

[yellowbelly]

I'd guess Golden Plover too......

Never seen 'em run on the ground much here though - they're either standing or flying. Tend to 'swirl round' in a bunch when in flight.

 

[robbie]

I'd say golden plover, I had a flock of about 2 dozen running up and down the field beside me when I was ploughing in the spring, it was the first time I'd seen them since I was a boy.

 

[robbie]

I'd say golden plover, I had a flock of about 2 dozen running up and down the field beside me when I was ploughing in the spring, it was the first time I'd seen them since I was a boy.

Could possibly be some other sort of wader like a sandpiper, turnstone, Dunlin ect but I've never seen them on arable ground just marshes.

 

[britt]

Dunlin behave like that, but are quite a bit smaller than partridge.

 

[Devon James]

We have Redwing

 

[MrNoo]

Golden Plover, we get them here, lovely birds and as you say very agile in flight, normally in a large group. I think they used to shoot them, they do have a season, not sure why anyone would wish to mind

 

[Foxcover]

Golden Plover, we get them here, lovely birds and as you say very agile in flight, normally in a large group. I think they used to shoot them, they do have a season, not sure why anyone would wish to mind

I once shot a woodcock by mistake and I haven’t shot since, such a beautiful bird that had flown from Russia to be killed by a useless c*#t like me

 

[MrNoo]

I once shot a woodcock by mistake and I haven’t shot since, such a beautiful bird that had flown from Russia to be killed by a useless c*#t like me

Yes, snap, although it was a Woodcock drive as a guest, not great. Wont shoot them anymore, same with the English Partridge we have here, not to be shot at. Last one was shot on a beaters day by a beater who should have known better, paired up as well, pee'd me right off especially as he could'nt hit anything all day but managed to drop it.

 

[Wilksy]

I once shot a woodcock by mistake and I haven’t shot since, such a beautiful bird that had flown from Russia to be killed by a useless c*#t like me

Can I ask what you thought you were shooting at?
I had a gun come up to me holding a small dead bird saying 'I've shot this what is it?'
Turned out to be a fieldfare

 

[Foxcover]

Can I ask what you thought you were shooting at?
I had a gun come up to me holding a small dead bird saying 'I've shot this what is it?'
Turned out to be a fieldfare

To be honest with you we were in woods and something partridge sized flitted from left to right 30 yards away in last drive light and I just pulled the trigger, I did eat it but that’s not the point.
Walking the dog last week and she flushed a woodcock, was great watching it fly.
Apparently for a while, the world record for number of woodcock shot in a day resided near me at Burton Constable in East Yorkshire, nothing to be proud of really.
Isn’t shooting fieldfare illegal?

 

[Wilksy]

To be honest with you we were in woods and something partridge sized flitted from left to right 30 yards away in last drive light and I just pulled the trigger, I did eat it but that’s not the point.
Walking the dog last week and she flushed a woodcock, was great watching it fly.
Apparently for a while, the world record for number of woodcock shot in a day resided near me at Burton Constable in East Yorkshire, nothing to be proud of really.
Isn’t shooting fieldfare illegal?

Yes fieldfare aren't game or pests, I've heard that people have shot blackbirds and even a tawny owl when there blood is up on a drive, funnily enough I have a stufted woodcock that was shot at burton constable, usually any woodcock shot this side of November are considered UK breeding birds, Greater numbers are seen after a full moon that are migrants, very hard bird to shoot and to quantify numbers, I think they are very tasty and will take one a season but i know a fella at Kilnwick shot 12 in day! Going back a good few years now, he doesn't shoot them anymore

 

[yellow belly]

most likely golden plover sometimes get flocks in their hundreds

If you do not know what it is don’t shoot it never ever no excuses
same goes for lamping or pest control
it criminal offence to shoot protected species

never can be too safe

 

[britt]

If a woodcock gets up on our shoot I shout " leave it, it's got a ring on". They've not cottoned on yet .
I only allow grey partridge to be shot if some have been released. They have bred much better since we restarted releasing them, a bit of fresh blood I suppose.

 

[Brisel]

If a woodcock gets up on our shoot I shout " leave it, it's got a ring on". They've not cottoned on yet .
I only allow grey partridge to be shot if some have been released. They have bred much better since we restarted releasing them, a bit of fresh blood I suppose.

No offence meant, but please take professional advice on greys. Released birds do not have the feeding behaviour to pass onto their young as it is not innate. You can also introduce disease into the native greys. If they were raised under bantams who would teach them properly then fair enough.

 

[An Gof]

Golden Plover, we get them here, lovely birds and as you say very agile in flight, normally in a large group. I think they used to shoot them, they do have a season, not sure why anyone would wish to mind

They’re still on the list to shoot and they used to shoot them on Bodmin Moor. We get them here on the farm in quite large flocks. Have shot some many years ago and they are quite good eating.