Have a good look across the fields at the moment and you should be able to see lapwing chicks scurrying around, 35 of the nests we're monitoring have hatched so far. The best places to look are along the wet muddy edges of the ditches and scrapes, particularly on Big Otmoor, at least one chick has also been seen in front of the Wetland Watch hide. These are great places for the well-camouflaged chicks to find tasty insects to eat.
Lapwing parents are obviously very protective of their fluffy offspring and you will no doubt hear the adults calling loudly as you walk round the reserve. If their chicks are feeding close to where you are, you may even get a noisy fly-past from the parents as they attempt to scare you off with their shill alarm calls and a 'lapping' sound they make with their wings. (Photos below taken by Terry Sherlock).
Other recent sightings on the reserve include little-ringed plover, yellow wagtail, hobbies (up to 7 so far), cuckoo, curlew and drumming snipe.
Amazing photos of the calling lapwing Terry!