masked lapwing

Masked Lapwing

The Masked Lapwings (Spur-winged Plovers previously) are common around the parks and lawns around Sydney.

Masked Plover, Alarmbird, (Australian) Spurwinged Plover, Spurwing, Wattled Plover, Masked Lapwing, Spurwinged Lapwing - showing off the wing spur that gives it some of its names

Taken with my trusty minicam in Summer Bay, NSW....yes, the home of Aussie soap Home and Away for those who watch it!

... and noisy night we woke to leaden skies in Barmera. But here's a Masked Lapwing looking at the Murray River. He looks a bit lonely, doesn't he.

The only bird I could see near the Casneax tree was this Masked Lapwing, so guess they nest round there somewhere.

After lunch we drove along the promenade, there were a few car parks and a lot of green areas. We stopped at one so I could get this picture of a Masked Lapwing.

Another early riser down on the Homestead Dam was a Masked Lapwing.

Now we were back and passing the Homestead Dam again but the top end of it. Here a Masked Lapwing was presiding. There are two subspecies the nominate from New Guinea and North Australia, and this one from south and east Australia and New Zealand (which may one day be split as Black-shouldered...

We then moved to the south of the island to visit Buckley's Hole. This Masked Lapwing was below the hide, watching his missis escort their bairn away from the obvious disturbance we must have made on entering. Quite handsome up close, aren't they.

A pair of Masked Lapwings were also on the beach, and I gave myself a minute or two to take a picture of one of them flying around. Not too bad this one I thought. And I just realised I can see the spurs on his wings!

A short stretch through scrubby trees brought us to an open area and there wandering through was a Masked Lapwing. They seem to like short grassy areas. I saw these guys in many places throughout Brisbane, even along the sides of busy main roads. This is the southern subspecies.

I'll give Lady Elliot a rest for a while.

As we walked back towards the car, a Masked Lapwing wandered across in front of us.

A rather muddy Radjah Shelduck leading, Masked Lapwing following. The Shelduck was another lifer that day. Radjah radjah (or Tadorna radjah)

I probably should have saved this one for Halloween. I wonder what the red spot on this lapwing's mask is. Has he been in battle with another lapwing and taken a hit to the head from one of his rival's spurs? Or is this just fake blood, maybe his "zombie lapwing" mask that he's trying...

No lifers in today's set. Not my very best shots. The SF joke isn't in very good taste. And this one has almost a military feel with those spurs showing on his wings. I'll try to do better tomorrow. But regarding those spurs: They weren't all that noticeable in most of the other shots I took of...

and yet another lifer from this trip. I'm losing track of the count. Or maybe I'm just tired :S Falling asleep at the computer here, after a long day out in cold, sharp wind. Weather does contribute to sleepiness, I find. But it was worth it. Saw four Yellow-eyed Penguins, three gathering...

These birds can be very aggressive, no matter what they are trying to chase, another bird, dog, human, car or even an airplane. They have spurs on their wings and use them in fights. These two look in different directions like soldiers ready to protect their territory.

Masked Lapwing Video: http://johnfoss.yolasite.com/masked-lapwing.php