Lapwings

[Cowgirl]

Excuse what is probably a stupid question.

Do all Lapwings migrate? I thought they always did. However, driving home one afternoon I spotted 4 in field next to the road. I haven't seen them there before, so I was a bit confused. Were they ones that didn't migrate & just a coincidence that I saw them there or have they just arrived, it seems a bit early for migrants to be returning isn't it?

[Dogghound]

Lapwings remain in Britain all year although there is movement between birds here and in Europe. Also depending on habitat they may move locally to other areas, they become quite coastal too in the winter.

[pammosley]

Hi cowgirl, we have lapwings at our local reserves over winter, they are lovely to see

[Cowgirl]

Thanks for putting me right. Guess they move to a more hospitable area than around here during winter, I just presumed bird gone = migrated. Thanks again.
Janette

[aeshna5]

As a species the Lapwing is a resident, but the detail is much more complicated. Many birds winter here from other parts of northern Europe + whilst may English birds remain in the country, others may move to Ireland, France, Iberia + even further afield.

In severe weather as we've had this winter there may be pronounced hard weather movements where birds move to find more suitable feeding conditions.

[Jonners]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

As a species the Lapwing is a resident, but the detail is much more complicated. Many birds winter here from other parts of northern Europe + whilst may English birds remain in the country, others may move to Ireland, France, Iberia + even further afield.

In severe weather as we've had this winter there may be pronounced hard weather movements where birds move to find more suitable feeding conditions.

A few years ago I heard a country bloke saying that if you saw Lapwings flying around, there wouldn't be a frost that night. Interesting observation, and probably a fairly good indicator I reckon.

[JeffH]

Like many other birds Lapwings also often gather in large flocks during the winter - there is quite a large flock here on the Ouse Washes in Cambridgeshire at the moment

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)

[diggleken]

A smattering have already started to return to breeding stations on our moors, from mid Jan on - I always think theyre pushing it!
Cheers
Ken

[Meta menardi]

I know I am not the first to say they look like scraps of burnt paper in the wind. The cry is so evocative of moors and fens, and I remember, before the spread of silage making and it's early cut of grass, huge flocks of them in the meadows above Settle. Lovely bird!