Deopham, Norfolk, 29th October

For my afternoon work break I decided to check the vast expanse of arable habitat on the former airfield location.  It was a beautiful afternoon with superb light and very good visibility.  The wind was a moderate, occasionally fresh easterly.
This location has always been reliable for Golden Plover, and indeed, upon my arrival, a few alighted on a field of maize stubble.  Once set up, it was clear that good number of Golden Plover (350+) were present.  Typically, some birds made short sprints over the land, but on occasions, when disturbed, they would all fly up and circle the area until alighting in the same area.  On one occasion this flock made fast passes low over the land twisting and turning, revealing their bright white underparts in unison before turning a second later to show dark underparts, I am sure the quick reveal of the white underparts and then the dark upperparts is a behaviour used to confuse potential predators.

Golden Plover at Deopham 29th October

Golden Plovers breed in upland Britain and in winter, they move to lowland farmland, sometimes in great numbers, I have seen winter flocks in Norfolk/Suffolk numbering 4000+ birds.
Stubble and weedy strips on arable land is generally a good place to search for mobile flocks of Finches, Buntings, and Larks, and in addition to the Golden Plovers today were 250+ Linnets, 70+ Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails, and a Buzzard and one Kestrel.