100s of lapwings

[Patf]

It's such a beautiful sight to see these skeins of lapwings floating across the sky. They descend onto the fields of cut maize to feed, and if anything startles them they launch off up again, always staying together.

This is in the Gers - can you see them in other areas?

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/l/lapwing/index.asp

I identified them by their crest and alarm call (aka peewit). Does anyone know their french name?

[odile]

I saw my first lapwing in Yorkshire - and loved them ever since. I love their funny way to fly, with those big paddles!

Such a shame they are still shot in their 1000s in France.

[odile]

by the way called 'vanneau huppe' (acute on e) -

[Patf]

I  didn't realise they were shot here.

But thinking about it, it's often a sound of a gun going off that precedes the wafting of the cloud of birds up into the air.

[woolybanana]

For the first time ever, they came into a garden of mine, this year, but Destroyer saw them off, unfortunately.

[Gastines]

For the last 6 years we have seen them in exactly the same field,by the side of N137, used to be in the hundreds but this year only about60-70 and the odd one in adjacent fields. Quite spectacular close up.

Regards

[mint]

Yes, saw some a couple of days ago and, yes, they are such beautiful birds.