Spinkyblurb

Peewit, Lapwing, Green Plover, Vanellus vanellus , whatever you call them, they're in big population decline here in the UK. I'm a scientist, so here's a graph showing the data from BTO that proves it (y axis is a smoothed population index & green indicates 85% confidence limits).  Adult Lapwing showing off gorgeous feather colours & a jaunty crest. Origins of the Lapwing name hail from Middle English lappewinke and lapwyngis , and back even earlier to the Old English  hleapewince , all of which mean 'leap' and 'wince' or 'waver, move rapidly'. It's descriptive, as the Lapwing appear to make a big leap  when they take to the air, and when on the ground they scuttle about quite rapidly. In that respect I'd hardly call them wavering, as I shall highlight below. However, when they're foraging they pause to listen, and patter on the mud using a foot, which increases their success rate in finding and catching invertebrates....

November, late in the afternoon and the light is fading at RSPB Buckenham Marshes so I tear myself away from the wonderful whistling wigeon and head back to Buckenham railway station. I'm not catching the train but the platform is a great spot to get caught up in the gathering corvids. Mainly rook and jackdaw make up this roost, and at first there are a few decorating the small stand of trees on the grazing marsh, but soon there is a steady stream of black birds from all directions, noisily announcing their arrival. There seems to be a little jostling for the top most points of the trees then things settle, apart from a little murmuring. Suddenly in unison they lift, it seems someone gave the call to move and the jackdaws continue their joyous recounting of the day to each other as they head to the field with the wires. But there is no room on the wires, for these are sole property of the rooks. Every inch filled but no bird actually looking cramped for space. There they si...