A fluffy bundle of feathers

I’m driving to the Arctic Tern colony to take some photographs of them bringing fish in to their chicks when I see a tiny bundle of feathers scurrying along the road in front of my car. It’s like a fluffy golf ball on sticks. I stop the car and get out while it scurries along.

It’s a Ringed Plover chick.

The adults are calling to it but whatever directions they are giving it clearly aren’t working. Eventually it retreats to the safety of the road verge and the parents appear.

I hope it survives. There are already many visiting predators along the beach without having cars to dodge along the road. With parents like these I think it stands a good chance.