Encounter between Lapwing and Stoat

[riggy]

Hello

Just got back from an hour or so's birding at a local wader scrape. The hide is only open a fews hours a week but a willow screen is in place next to the hide with enough gaps to put a lens through. Was watching this little un for a while (with its 3 siblings)



Parent was quite happy feeding away and not noticing me. Suddenly it took off and landed just in front of me



but appeared to be looking towards the hide. The reason became appearent when this arrived from in front of the hide


realising it's was going to get a good "pecking" it did a runner



Chased by one very angry lapwing



After about ten mins I relocated the chicks (I assume they were the same ones).

Of course if I had been in the hide I would have missed it all!

Cheers and sorry for a longer than normally post
Paul

[Gill Catton]

Wow that's amazing! Really goood photographs too! I really like the last picture especially, it tells a lot of the story.

You must have really quick reactions to catch the stoat so well!

I'd bet the wildlife trust, RSPB or WWT would be interested in this (and accompaning photographs) behaviour rarely witnessed let alone captured on film.

[riggy]

Cheers

It all happend in front of me. I was please that the chick was coming towards the screen so I could get some shots, then thought thats nice the parent come close (love the colours of the Lapwing). Then the Stoat appeared. It's things like this that make you glad you watch wildlife not Eastenders (and glad you did nights last week and got this week off work!)

Paul

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by riggy

Cheers

It all happend in front of me. I was please that the chick was coming towards the screen so I could get some shots, then thought thats nice the parent come close (love the colours of the Lapwing). Then the Stoat appeared. It's things like this that make you glad you watch wildlife not Eastenders (and glad you did nights last week and got this week off work!)

Paul

Its a fantastic thing - one of those special moments in life for certain I reckon.

[aeshna5]

Agree with Gill- one of those rare + special encounters that you're lucky to have. Well caught on camera + a happy ending for the Lapwing chick. In one of my local patches the breeding Lapwings are busy chasing Crows + Jackdaws.

[riggy]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Agree with Gill- one of those rare + special encounters that you're lucky to have. Well caught on camera + a happy ending for the Lapwing chick. In one of my local patches the breeding Lapwings are busy chasing Crows + Jackdaws.

The Lapwings were kept busy chasing everything Crows, Jackdaws, Woodies and also Redshank. I think the only thing they didn't chase was the Swallows.

Cheers

Paul

[pammosley]

You lucky so & so
What a fantastic thing to see & even better to get some fantastic photos
I`m so jealous

[FUDGEY]

That's brilliant, would love to have seen that.

[Naturenutz]

Wow,a moment to remember for sure.Great shots

[riggy]

Thanks for the comments.

Feel really privallaged to have seen the encounter, a case of right place right time I suppose.

Paul