Photographic Essay: New Life Abounds

Posted in Masked LapwingTagged

Here is a quick update of several of the clutches of Masked Lapwings in our area.

The single one, seems to be the most accessible, so guess you’ll see a few more pictures of it as it matures. I’ve named it Opal, from opalescence, a visual quality of milk.  Why milk?  Ah, you’ll have to read the back story. 🙂

Also included is a shot of three others in a large water-collection pan, that doubles as a community park.
And a couple from the supermarket pair, but they tend to stay just too far away for short lenses, and there is no-way I’m pondering wandering along with the long tele-hardware anytime soon.

A bright blush of colour, that has opened up all along the streets after the cold wet past few days. Isn’t nature amazing.

From The Global Headquarters of The Doona Hermit

Three of four that are in a large water overflow area. It is also used for a number of community activities including bike riding and football and off-leash doggies in an on-leash area.
(Sorry Magda no Nettie).
Parent of the group of four. I thought it was going to have a go at me, but it was getting ready for a run at a dog that was off-leash in an on-leash area.,
One of the two young next to the supermarket. They are pretty advanced and seem to be putting on weight.
One of the supermarket young.
Opal with a typical lapwing pose with one leg lifted and paused.
Opal on a wing stretch.
Still practicing for the sprints
Head shake
Fine hope of spring.

10 thoughts on “Photographic Essay: New Life Abounds”

  2. Lovely reminders that there’s always hope for better things to come. At least all our woes mean that things might be going quite well for the birds in the peace and quiet. Apart from the off-leash dogs where they shouldn’t be!

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    1. Hi Eleanor, I really hope the resolve of the government doesn’t waiver over the next couple of weeks. Everybody wants to be a commentator, but none seem to roll up their sleeves and go and do a shift or two at the coal face with the medical people.
      Easier to be armchair critics from the safety and security of their warm fortress.

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  3. A bright spot on groundhog day 51! Lovely to see the youngsters growing. Wonderful images, David! I love the Wattle too! The Lapwing chicks are fascinating to watch and it looks like you have a front row seat. I hear what you are saying about not wanting to take the big hardware out, it does tend to attract attention.

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    1. The wattles and particularly the flowering plums in the local streets, seem to have burst out since Friday, the cold weather must have given them the signal.
      Its a bit a a dwindling numbers game watching lapwings. The young so quickly seem to disappear for various reasons.

      And all these are on major busy roads, so I’d attract attention just walking by.

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  4. A lovely series of photos David. So good to see they are doing well. The vigilant parents contribute this as can be seen. It is a blessing that you have these little families to showcase while you are locked down. Yes you do not want to attract attention to your gear, else someone might blow the whistle and say you are actually enjoying yourself during the Covid and doing something constructive with your time, even though you pose no threat to anyone but the Lapwings. It is interesting watching that facial mask develop. Their far north cousins of a different race have a much longer pendulous mask that hangs. At least you have passing over the halfway mark and you just have repeat what you did to get there, it must be difficult. It is a good time for one to write their memoirs.

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    1. Thanks Ashley, it is a bit a diversion during the complex time.
      We’ve not been in the field now for 8 weeks all told.
      I’m pretty sure the V miles, is the longer wattled bird, and the V noveahollandiae is the local one. I must make a change to the library keyword. But the way things get changed, I am no longer certain.
      Can’t do much else now than hang in and see what a Covid Normal might be like. Just being able to get out and move about would be a blessing for us. I don’t need to do the shopping centres-foodhalls and large events.
      In fact if anything I think we have gained a little pause in the frenetic pace of life and many of the adaption skills we’re undertaken will stay with us for quite the foreseeable future.
      Remaining at distance, face masks, on line shopping etc.
      Just really getting tired of day-time tv.
      Good luck and keep takin pictures we do.

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  5. Thanks for making me smile, We have many of these fluff balls running around our nature strips in Colac too. I must admit, I stop the car to watch every time I see one.

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    1. Hi Nina, now that I’ve had time to watch them at ‘work’, I have to admit they are fascinating little creatures that I’ve previously ignorned. Perhaps because the parents are so possessive and single-minded.
      But it has been a beaut interlude.

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