All over the UK, eggs are being tapped open from inside and chicks are struggling into the outside world. This young lapwing was photographed by Steve Round as it returned to its mother to be kept warm under her feathers.
Unfortunately, the recent heavy rain has meant that the Ouse Washes - one of England's most important sites for breeding waders - has been flooded, bringing disaster for hundreds of nesting attempts. But in other parts of the country, extra rain has been welcomed.
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