White-tailed Lapwing, Blacktoft Sands RSPB Reserve 27 August 2021
WELL AT LEAST MY VIEWS OF WHITE-TAILED LAPWING IN THE UK ARE STEADILY GETTING CLOSER. I reckon the range of each one has halved from a very distant flight view (Caerlaverock) to the distant through-the-fence view at Seaforth and now this, at the back of the scrape from Xerox hide at the RSPB’s Blacktoft Sands reserve. Although it spent most of its time out of sight behind the reed island I guess this added to the drama when its black-and-white wings flashed onto the stage. Alexander was competing in Sheffield today so it wasn’t much of a detour to show him somewhere special. He even endured a queue for the hide wait and then another spell waiting for a second one minute view before we left. I love Blacktoft, mostly as its always been kind to me. I’ve seen quite a few new birds here and haven’t missed anything yet on my very occasional visits since my first ever Marsh Harrier on 6 June 1981, to Hudsonian Godwit and Red-necked Phalarope in 1983, Red-necked Stint in 1986 and Montagu’s Harrier more recently. Back to the present day, once it appeared, the White-tailed Lapwing stalked the back of the very shallow muddy lagoon passing Green Sandpipers, Ruffs, Teal and Water Rails before it wandered out of view. A Spotted Redshank flew over calling, a couple of Marsh Harriers floated over the vast reedbed and a male Bearded Tit hopped around at the base of the reeds. What a nice selection of birds in a lovely setting. I’ve commented this is probably the worst-looking White-tailed Lapwing I’ve seen but it looked great from a distance today!
Here’s how I prefer to see one, driving up to it in a field in Oman.