Lapwings on the Uplands & Moorlands

Yesterday I had a trip across the Yorkshire Moors,  to survey the upland and moorland birds.

As we have had a proper winter for a number of years, I was concerned what effect this has had on many nesting moorland birds.

I was really surprised to see good numbers of both Lapwing and Curlew.

When I say good numbers this was roughly twenty pairs of Lapwing and half a dozen pair of Curlew, in a twenty mile radius.

Not huge numbers, but nether the less a pleasing sight.

Most of the birds were to far away to photograph and were quite well camouflaged in the heather!

A number of shots that I managed!   Very much like hide and seek, just couldn't get close enough to get full body shots.

Hope you enjoy them!

 

Regards Buzzard

 

Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way

  • Good Morning Buzzard,

    I certainly have enjoyed looking at your photos. I had no idea lapwings were so colourful. It is pleasing to see a reasonable number of them. Thank you for posting them, it has ben a pleasure to see them.

    Cheers, Linda.

    See my photos on Flickr

  • Same here Sparrow, aren't they lovely, well done again Buzzard.

    There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.

  • Hi Buzzard,

    Lovely photos of fabulous birds!  It is a surprise when you see the colours as they just look black and white from a distance.  I have been watching some on the arable land on the downs behined my house with my new scope.  It's about half a mile away.  I heard them first and was very pleased to be able to see them at last.  There are about six I think. 

    SB

    There is something new to learn everyday...

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/

  • Your photos are excellent from such a distance. What camera and lense are you using?
    I never realised they were such a pretty bird. Lovely to see

    Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain.
    ~ Mark Twain

  • WOW!!!! Fabulous shots Buzzard. I have yet to see a lapwing so it is a delight to see yours. They really are the most stunning colours. Thanks for sharing those.

    The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.

    The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!

  • The lapwings are back at Wood Lane Nature Reserve, Shropshire - wonderful to see them!

  • Lapwings are such beautiful birds and I too didn't realise how colourful they actually are.  Never had the pleasure of seeing any 'in the flesh'.

    Really nice photos Buzzard, thanks for sharing :o)

     

    Although not in their masses, at least there's still a healthy number of them there after this winter.  Amazing how something that looks rather delicate can be quite hardy to withstand the winter we had.

  • Lovely pics Buzzard! They are quite beautiful birds!!

    "All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)

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  • Great photo, likewise I never realised they were so colourful.  I took a photo of a Lapwing a few months ago but the colours are nothing like yours Buzzard .  My shot was really close and the day quite bright but it didn't show any of the iridescent colours yours have.

     

    Either it's my camera or does their plumage change?

     

  • Nice set of photos, Buzzard. They really are very attractive birds.

    Kezmo - The reason you can't see the colours on your photo is because the camera underexposes when you are shooting against a very light background: in this case the water. You also get the same problem when shooting against the sky.The only way to overcome this is to increase the exposure a bit or correct them in your photo editor afterwards.

    I've taken the liberty of lightening the shadows on your photo. The colours now show a bit better although still not as lustreous as Buzzard's.

    Hope you don't mind me interfering.

    Regards

    TJ

    ____________________________________________________________________

    Tony

    My Flickr Photostream