Lapwing
Lapwings grow a new set of feathers in the autumn and the upperpart feathers have a narrow buffy tip that wears off by spring leaving the glossy breeding plumage. Nearly all of my Lapwing photographs were taken on the breeding grounds in the hills so I think this is the first adult in its buffy-scaled winter plumage that I have uploaded. Also in winter they tend to live in skittish flocks so they are not as easy to photograph close. Young Lapwings also have more extensive buffy edges but the glossy colours and long crest show this to be an adult. Here's a young bird for comparison with a short crest: www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/36052348383/in/photolist Adult male Lapwings have black all over the front of the face that join up with the breast band so this white faced bird is a female. Here's an adult male: www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/36953431185/in/photolist I photographed this winter-plumaged female at Martin Mere in lowland Lancashire where they are common in winter. They usually vacate the hills in winter but their noisy return in March (sometimes earlier) is one of the first signs of spring.
Lapwing
Lapwings grow a new set of feathers in the autumn and the upperpart feathers have a narrow buffy tip that wears off by spring leaving the glossy breeding plumage. Nearly all of my Lapwing photographs were taken on the breeding grounds in the hills so I think this is the first adult in its buffy-scaled winter plumage that I have uploaded. Also in winter they tend to live in skittish flocks so they are not as easy to photograph close. Young Lapwings also have more extensive buffy edges but the glossy colours and long crest show this to be an adult. Here's a young bird for comparison with a short crest: www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/36052348383/in/photolist Adult male Lapwings have black all over the front of the face that join up with the breast band so this white faced bird is a female. Here's an adult male: www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/36953431185/in/photolist I photographed this winter-plumaged female at Martin Mere in lowland Lancashire where they are common in winter. They usually vacate the hills in winter but their noisy return in March (sometimes earlier) is one of the first signs of spring.