Ignore the drizzle and the drab because spring is truly in the air! The Lapwing chicks, our new favourite little bundles of fluff have come out to play!
Though this wee fella seems to be doing more snoozing then play!- Photo credit Eric Neilson
The first three were spotted – finally! - late last week and since then we’re now up to a grand total of 9 Lapwing chicks at Mersehead. There’s sure to be more hiding away and another brood on the way with at least one other mother resting patiently on her brood. It’s looking to be a busy nesting season for the Mersehead Lapwings!
Lapwings typically would be found nesting on farms in amongst the sown seeds or swooping over ploughed fields and although found all over Britain are, in fact, considered endangered. At risk from habitat loss, predation and even heavy rain drowning out nests it’s been a hard knock life for them.
At Mersehead they have a much easier time nesting within the safety of Scotland’s only anti predator fencing! Designed in order to discourage any mammals looking for a scrambled egg breakfast it protects the Lapwings during nesting, brooding and the chicks when they hatch and feed. In the relative safety of the site we hope to see a great increase in the number of adults raised from within the fence and surrounding area where some adults have braved to nest. In fact, we’ve already seen an increase in the number of adults returning to the site! Lapwings are very loyal to good breeding sites and will return year on year to somewhere they feel is safe for them and their little balls of joy.
Seriously, have you seen a Lapwing chick? It’s a ridiculous ball of adorableness on stilts- photo credit Chris Knight
If you get a chance to pop down to Mersehead keep your eyes peeled for the chicks, they’re tiddly, but the adults are not subtle and have a great give away to help you spot them. Watch out for them behind the Visitors Centre, swooping low to the floor over and over again near shallow pools of water. Calling all the while with a “Peeeewit!” they’ll be busy herding the chicks to the waters edge to feed.
Keep a good watch! It’s worth the wait to see them.
Photo credit Eric Neilson