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Banded Lapwings at a shallow puddleAlternate name(s): "Banded Plover", "Black-breasted Plover", "Flock Plover", "Plain Plover", "Tri-coloured Plover"  Aboriginal name(s): "kilkil" (WA); "kalli-jirr-jirr"Size: 25-29 cm Weight: 190 g (average) |
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Banded Lapwings are one of the bird species that specialize in finding food where others see no food source. They visit, e.g. fallow fields and small ephemeral wetlands, such as shallow puddles, including puddles in roadside ditches.
In December 2015 we found first 12 Banded Lapwings at a shallow puddle on a roadside fallow field. On a second visit, 3 days later, the size of the flock had grown to about 50, including several immature birds. The mob was very much attached to "its" water puddle and did not want to budge when disturbed. The photos below are in chronological order.
About 50 Banded Lapwings seeking shelter in a shallow puddle,
around which they had been distributed loosely before; the
vehicle, parked by the side of the road, shows how close the
puddle is to a little-used gravel road
road
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, December 2015]
When flushed, the flock of Banded Lapwings flew away as far
as about 500 m, then made a few twists and turns, while all
the time one sentry had remained at the puddle
road
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, December 2015]
During a fly-by everybody had a good look at the unwanted visitor
road
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, December 2015]
A second fly-by established that the visitor had still not moved
road
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, December 2015]
Well then, flaps out, landing gear out, and let's see whether he
can be trusted...
road
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, December 2015]
In the end, everybody settled down again - and stayed there, while
the visitor waved his good-bye and retreated to his car, walking
around the puddle/flock
road
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, December 2015]
This is the flock of Banded Lapwings whose calls were recorded on 22 December 2015.
