White-tailed plover and conversations in the Townend hide

Who knew that white-tailed plovers had black toe nails? I was in the area this afternoon, so called in at Blacktoft for another look at the long-staying bird. It's in much better plumage now and showed well in perfect light from the Townend hide. Not a lot else of note, about the best was a single spotted redshank.

There was a maddening conversation in the hide at Blacktoft today. I didn't take part in it but I was forced to listen. Ten birders in the hide, none of them what you might call twitchers or photographers, just general birders, all speaking loudly, with only about eight waders on the mud, so not many birds to look through. It went something like this:

[Door slams loudly]

Is the rarity here?

Do you mean the white-tailed plover?

Not sure.

The white-tailed plover is over there on the left, the bird with bright yellow legs.

Is that it on the right?

No that's a redshank. It's the one on the left with bright yellow legs.

Oh you mean the one next to the moorhen?

No that's a dunlin. The one with the yellow legs on the left.

At the back?

No that's a redshank.

Sorry I've not been birding long.

Ok but its the one with bright yellow legs just over there.

Oh there's a curlew near the island. 

No that's a black-tailed godwit.

Not much here today is there?

Well there's a white-tailed plover.

Where's that?

The bird on the left with bright yellow legs.

Can't see it. Where is it in relation to the curlew?

It's a godwit! The white-tailed plover is left of that, the closest bird, standing on the edge of water with bright yellow legs.

Oh yeah. You can really see why it's called white-faced plover.

It's not, it's called a white-tailed plover. 

Does it have a white tail?

Yes.

[5 minutes later]

Has the yellow legs gone? 

No it's still in more or less in the same place.

Can't see it. What's it called again?

White-tailed plover.

Still can't see it, it must have flown off.

No it's still there.

Is that it at the back?

No that's a redshank.

Good to see so many redshanks here [5 birds]. Oh yeah, I can see the white-face.

Yes it's on the left near those two dunlin.

Oh I must be looking at the wrong bird.

It's the one with yellow legs on the left. The nearest bird standing out in the open.

I never see this bird! I've obviously got a lot to learn about birding.

But it's the bird with yellow legs on the left. There's only one bird with yellow legs and it's right in front of us.

I'll get there one day. Not much here today is there?

And so it went on and on and on, at full volume for a good 15 minutes. Just maddening, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So much for a relaxing and peaceful hobby, I had a headache when I left.....