Small and vulnerable
A masked lapwing or spur winged plover, Vanellus miles, chick that I think was less than two days old. Unfortunately, the parents did not stay very close to it so I did not get a reasonable photo of the chick and one of its parents together. Its height was less than the height of its parents knees (see next photo). I kept my distance because masked plovers will defend the chicks and they have spurs on their wings with which they could attack.
Masked lapwings do not always choose good places to nest. They have been known to nest on railway tracks. This pair probably nested on the ground in the backyard of a house. They would often go onto quite a busy road and did not stop the chick going onto the road.
Small and vulnerable
A masked lapwing or spur winged plover, Vanellus miles, chick that I think was less than two days old. Unfortunately, the parents did not stay very close to it so I did not get a reasonable photo of the chick and one of its parents together. Its height was less than the height of its parents knees (see next photo). I kept my distance because masked plovers will defend the chicks and they have spurs on their wings with which they could attack.
Masked lapwings do not always choose good places to nest. They have been known to nest on railway tracks. This pair probably nested on the ground in the backyard of a house. They would often go onto quite a busy road and did not stop the chick going onto the road.