Robert Canis Wildlife and Nature Photographer in Kent
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Lapwing : The Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) is far away my favourite bird. It may not have the majesty of a soaring golden eagle or colour of a goldfinch but what it lacks it more than makes up for in personality. Living close to the North Kent Marshes has allowed me to capture it's behaviour throughout the seasons from it's acrobatic, vocal courtship and chicks scattered across the flooded fields to thousands of birds swiriling in the morning sky avoiding the clutches of a peregrine falcon. I don't need to be swayed but hope that after you have viewed these pictures, you too will be won over by them.
 Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) chick. 
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), The male differs from the female in that he has a longer crest, broader wings and black patch under the bill. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) male.
Lapwing feed on insects and worms and as they walk will tap their feet in order to disturb insects among the grass. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) flying over grazing marsh at sunrise. As early as February, males will display as soon as it is light.
They do the most acrobatic aerial display, gaining height then swooping down, feet from the ground calling "pee-wit" from where its other name derives, Peewit.
Lapwing will ruthlessly and endlessly defend their territory from other males.
Once he has the attention of a female he will make numerous scrapes, one of which the female will eventually choose to nest in. Male successfully grabbing the attention of a female! Notice the difference between the sexes. Female with shorter crest and speckled patch under the bill.
Other aspects of courtship include landing next to a female with his wings outstretched.
Lapwing choose to nest on short grass which gives them good all-round vision in which to keep an eye on predators. They therefore choose fields and marshes that have been grazed by sheep, not cattle, which nibble the grass down to stubble. Cattle leave longer tufts. Although both sexes incubate, it is predominantly carried out by the female. They do so for around 28 days.
Lapwings belong to a group of birds known as nidifugous which means that within hours of hatching they can get up and leave the nest. This makes perfect sense since they would of course be in danger from predation if they stayed there for longer. Nidifugous comes from latin-nidus for "nest" and fugere meaning "to flee." The newly hatched young stay close to the female and if they sense danger will shelter under her.
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) chick. A four-legged lapwing!
Lapwings fly at 5 weeks.
When winter arrives, Lapwing from the continent join those that are resident, boosting numbers on the North Kent Marshes to many thousands.
Birds of prey such as peregrine or marsh harrier send lapwing into the air en masse. This tactic confuses the predator and increaes chances of survival.
Lapwing roosting at sunrise on a frozen flooded marsh. Lapwing roosting at sunset against a backdrop of dockside cranes. Birds of the North Kent Marshes have needed to adapt in this ever changing environment.
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