Whitefish Point, MI. August 2026.
I realized I never shared this cutie. I went to Whitefish Point just to find this bird and I was amazed I found it in five minutes. This was the only one too. They’re a protected species so I kept my distance getting these. There were a ton of logs to hide behind.
This individual featured in the Wikipedia page for piping plover also seems to have 3 rings but they don’t look as obtrusive as the ones in OP’s post somehow. Maybe it’s the size of the rings?
This individual was a juvenile. That’s probably why