Identifying moorland bird tracks: lapwing, curlew and golden plover signs to look for

I spend a lot of time on peat and heather — the flat, lumpy, wind-bent places where lapwings, curlews and golden plovers feel most at home. Often these birds are heard before they're seen, or gone altogether except for the subtle signatures they leave behind: a half‑moon of footprints in soft peat, a shallow scrape, a scatter of feathers. Learning to read those signs makes a moorland walk feel more like a conversation with the landscape. Below are the practical clues I look for when trying to identify moorland bird presence, plus the habits and conditions that produce the different marks.

Why tracks and signs matter

Tracks and ancillary signs extend the brief moment of encountering a bird. Many moorland species are cryptic: they crouch low, flee at the faintest shadow, or feed at night. A line of footprints, a neat nest scrape or a fresh pellet can tell you who was here, what they were doing, and sometimes when. For conservation-minded walkers this skill also helps avoid disturbing nests: spotting a scrape or a pattern of repeated visits is a cue to give the area a wide berth.

General reading of moorland substrate

Moorland underfoot varies wildly — from dry, brittle heather to soft, saturated peat and tussocky grass. Track clarity depends on substrate and weather. In soft, wet peat you’ll get crisp impressions with visible toe marks; on dry heather you’re often left with flattened vegetation, bent tussocks, or faint surface scratches. Where ground is frozen or crusted after frost, tracks may be shallow or non-existent. I always judge whether the sign could be recent (soft, sharp edges) or older (moss growth, weathering).

Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) — what to look for

Lapwings are a common presence on lowland moors and wet grazed pasture. Their tracks are distinctive once you’ve seen them a few times.

Footprint shape: Three forward toes with a slight splay and a shorter rear toe; prints are arrowhead-like and often paired with a slight blistered drag mark from the footfall.

Stride and pattern: A purposeful, bounding pattern — long hops or quick steps — leaving spaced pairs of prints. In soft peat the toes often show clear lobes.

Associated signs: Lapwings make shallow nest scrapes lined with a few grasses or stones; look for a neat, concave depression, often in short turf. You may also find scattered small dung pellets and occasional molt feathers around territories.

I’ve found lapwing scrapes near wet hollows and short grazed areas where their chicks can dash between heather stems. On windy days you can spot adult lapwings patrolling the edges of these sites, calling and performing dramatic wing-clapping displays.

Curlew (Numenius arquata) — signature marks

Curlews are larger and their tracks reflect that mass and long-legged gait.

Footprint shape: Three long, narrow forward toes; prints are elongated and often deeper at the heel. The toes can leave parallel grooves if the bird walks with a slight toe-drag.

Stride and pattern: Long strides, often in a straighter line than lapwing. Curlews tend to walk rather than hop, so tracks form an orderly chain. When feeding they make a neat series of probing holes.

Associated signs: Curlew feeding leaves tell-tale probing marks — small circular holes or dimples where the long bill has probed into soft peat or mud for worms and invertebrates. You may also find finely textured pellets (regurgitated indigestible matter) and larger contour feathers.

Curlew probe marks are among my favourite signs: an area can look bland until you stoop and see a network of feeding pits, each a tiny testimony to the bird’s systematic search for fare beneath the surface.

Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) — the compact walker

Golden plovers have a compact, dainty footprint but their behaviour creates other strong clues.

Footprint shape: Smaller than curlew and lapwing, with three forward toes showing a neat, triangular shape and a delicate rear mark.

Stride and pattern: Shorter, quicker steps in a scattered pattern as they forage in short turf and around hummocks. Their walking pattern is less bouncy than lapwing, more nimble.

Associated signs: Golden plover territories often feature shallow scrapes and a scattering of small droppings. During breeding season they call frequently from perches or low flight and will perform starlike aerial displays over holding grounds. Their feathers are small and mottled — easy to miss unless you’re crouched down.

I often find golden plover signs in drier, humped moor where short vegetation exposes their feeding grounds. The birds’ preference for stony knolls or slight rises means tracks may appear near patches of bare ground or light grit, with their territorial displays announced from the air.

Feathers, droppings and other clues

Don’t rely on footprints alone. Small contour feathers, especially wing tips (primary coverts), are useful. Lapwing feathers are boldly patterned with greenish iridescence on the mantle; curlew feathers are long and brown-streaked; golden plovers have compact, gold-speckled plumage.

Droppings can tell you about diet and species group. Curlew pellets are longer and more tapered than lapwing droppings. Freshness is judged by moisture and gloss: fresh droppings appear wetter and darker; old ones crack or get covered in grit.

Seasonality and behaviour — when signs are most obvious

Spring and early summer are the best times to find nests, scrapes and abundant tracks: birds are territorial and moving around more. Autumn and winter signs can still be informative — winter roosts reveal large flocks’ trampling patterns and droppings across peat hollows. After heavy rain the ground becomes a tracking playground: toe impressions and probes are crisp. Conversely, after prolonged dry spells, tracks fade quickly.

Tools I use in the field

I tend to keep things simple. A lightweight pair of binoculars (I use compact 8x42 optics from Zeiss for distant scanning), an all-weather notepad and pen, and a small folding trowel help me examine scrapes without damaging them. For recording I use a camera — my Nikon mirrorless system with a 70–200mm is versatile for both wary birds and close-up detail. OS Maps on my phone and a paper 1:25k map are invaluable for plotting where I’ve seen signs and ensuring I avoid sensitive nesting sites.

Ethical considerations and minimal-impact observing

Reading tracks is a low-impact way to enjoy wildlife without forcing a sighting. If you find a scrape, nests or fresh chick tracks, keep well back and avoid walking in to inspect. Many ground-nesting birds are easily disturbed and will abandon nests if repeatedly flushed. When photographing, use long lenses from a distance, and never approach chicks or brooding adults. If you come across rare or sensitive species, consider reporting it to local conservation groups rather than broadcasting exact locations online.

Quick reference table — footprints at a glance

Species	Footprint size & shape	Movement pattern	Other signs
Lapwing	Medium; arrowhead-like three toes	Bouncy hops; paired prints	Shallow scrapes, patterned feathers
Curlew	Large; long narrow toes	Long stride; straight chain	Probing holes, large feathers
Golden Plover	Small; neat triangular toes	Short quick steps; scattered	Shallow scrapes, small mottled feathers

Learning to read these signs takes practice, patience and a willingness to crouch and look closely. Over time the subtle differences become obvious: the confident sweep of a curlew line, the quick dash of a plover, the scatter of a lapwing’s wings. Most of all, recognising these traces encourages a quieter, more respectful way of being on the moor — one that leaves room for the birds to continue their ancient cycles.