I was walking along Sully beach over last Friday’s high tide when a walker and her wide-roaming dog put up this little flock of waders. In panic, they flew together along the beach, wheeled out over the waves and around, heading back to their original location.

Luckily for me, once they considered the woman – or, more likely, the dog – was far enough away, they settled back on the rocks again. The astute amongst you may have counted the flying flock and noted that there were, in fact, more than a baker’s dozen. That was the number of Ringed plovers. They were accompanied by two Turnstones and a single Dunlin.