A scuttling Sandy Laverock

The Orkney name for Ringed Plover is Sandy Laverock. It’s a beautiful name for a beautiful bird.

They appear to be always in a hurry to get somewhere, walking fast in straight lines from place to place.

Charadrius hiaticula is their scientific name, but I prefer their Italian name, il corriere, which means the Courier. It describes their behaviour perfectly.