Plover birds

[wilgk]

It seems my sailboarding husband is a bird watcher as well. We went in search of pretty blue wrens a few times lately. Yesterday we found in the cemetery a pair of plovers & a chick.
They are called masked or spur winged plovers I think. They have a bright yellow 'mask' & yellow spurs on their wing tips. People get very frightened as they can 'swoop' and screech at you when you are near their young.

Someone to watch over me...



Keep your distance..

[Shadowman]

Nice shots.

[Bobobird]

Beautiful bird. #2 for me.

[NorthernFocus]

those are commonly called plover but I believe are masked lapwing. they seem to have it in for us yanks.

[FootLoose]

You have to respect a bird that attacks people.

[Rebel]

Lovely shots, i've never come across this bird before. Beautiful.

[Ken MT]

Here are two photos of a newly hatched spur winged plover. As soon as they hatch they are on the move, crouching down when anything approaches.
The chicks are camouflage extremely well, and at the same time the adults screech and try to divert the potential intruder.

ps the plovers flew from Australia on a westerly, cheaper than Qantas

[IzzieK]

Ditto to Greg's comment...make sure you stay away from the magpies too...

[marlunn]

great shots and interesting background info, #2 looks like a marvel comic mask to hide its identity

[bnnrcn]

I like #2

[wilgk]

Thanks everyone, they are quite different with their mask.
I will leave them in peace now, with their toddler

[vaez]

Beautiful bird. #2 for me.