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African Wattled Lapwing


African Wattled Lapwing
Photo Information
Copyright: Anna Eksteen (Miss_Piggy) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2285 W: 5 N: 5300] (18714)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2012-03-23
Categories: Birds
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC HX1, Sony G lens 20x Optical zoom, Digital ISO 125
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2012-06-10 1:54
Viewed: 4905
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 70
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
African Wattled Lapwing / Vanellus senegallus

I have been away for longer than a month recovering after an operation, but now I am back and would like to share with you number 54 in the series of the Birds of the Kruger which is the African Wattled Lapwing. This is another bird I had on my wish list and was pleased when we came across this one at the Sunset dam during our short visit to the park at the end of March.

Distribution and habitat
Occurs across sub-Saharan Africa; in southern Africa it is fairly common in Zimbabwe, northern Botswana and Namibia (including the Caprivi Strip), north-eastern South Africa, Swaziland and central and southern Mozambique. It generally prefers waterlogged grassland at streams, seeps edges of marshes and flood plains, as well as exposed areas along the edges of lakes and pans, burnt grassland and cultivated land.

Movements and migrations
Resident while breeding, but nomadic during the rainy season.

Food
It mainly eats insects, doing most of its foraging by walking slowly while scanning the ground for prey to catch. The following food items have been recorded in its diet: Crickets, locusts, grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars (larval stage of Lepidoptera), termites and grass seeds.

Breeding
Monogamous, territorial solitary nester, with the male defending its territory vigorously against intruders (mainly other African wattled lapwings) by striking them with its wings. Displays and fights are most intense at the beginning of the breeding season, as later males only call and use threat postures to defend their territory.

The nest is a shallow depression in the ground, several of which are created by the male before the female chooses one to be lined thickly with grass stems, roots, pebbles and dry dung. It is typically placed on bare ground in short or burnt grassland, or occasionally small islands in marshy areas.

Egg-laying season is from July-December, peaking from September-October. It lays 2-4 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for about 28-32 days, often mobbing predators which come to close. The chicks leave the nest within 24 hours, and are always tended by at least one adult, fledging at about 40 days old but only leaving the family group at the start of the following breeding season.

Threats
Not threatened, in fact it may have benefited from the modification of habitats by humans. Source

I hope you enjoyed looking at this photo as much as I took pleasure in taking it.
lousat, Marco2010, cloud, maaciejka, anel, CeltickRanger, ramthakur, Jakkals, bungbing, josediogo1958, Mamagolo2, Alex99, samiran88, pierrefonds, mesquens, Chiza has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2012-06-10 2:04]

Hi Anna,what a beautiful capture of this rare guest of TN,magnificent details and colors,very interesting specie,i like it!!Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2012-06-10 4:28]

Hello Anna.
This a very nice bird with very nice colors. The picture is clear and sharp, and great details. well done.Best regards Siggi

Ciao Anna, lovely bird in nice pose, fantastic colors, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Ciao Anna.
Splendida foto di pavoncella con dei colori stupendi,eccellente la nitidezza con ottimi particolari,molto bella la composizione complimenti.
Ciao Marco.

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 497 W: 111 N: 1535] (9539)
  • [2012-06-10 7:03]

Hello Anne,
This species remind our European but legs and head are different. I curious if song its is similar or not. Photo is very nice.
Regards, Pawel

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2012-06-10 7:35]

Hello Anna,
Excellent photo of this African Wattled Lapwing.
Great sharpness, beautiful natural colours and a fine DOF. Taken from a nice POV in a pleasing composition.
Regards,
Peter

hello Anna
super sharpness picture with very good light and great details
the colours are beautiful
thanks greeting lou

HI Anna,
what a nice photo of this bird. Amazing colours. Great sharpness and details. Great point of view.
Have a nice week,
Maciek

Hello Anna,
What long legs she has! Beautiful capture of this Lapwing. Very striking bird with the patterns and colors it exhibits.
Welcome back...
Steve

Hello Anna
Amazing bird and beautiful photo with wonderful colours and good sharpness!
Regards,
Christodoulos

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2012-06-10 10:12]

Hello Anna,
A special bird with this yellow appendice under the eyes. It has a beautiful plumage and an amzing clear eye. Pleasant picture taken under the midday sunshine, with just a little shadow on the ground. Lovely three-colored background too.
Thanks and take care!
Kind regards
Anne

Beautiful bird with well managed colors and focus
Good that you have recovered

cheers
J

Ciao Anna. Perfect detaisl and magnificent colours. Efficent light. very well done.

Roberto

Hello Anna,
Incredible again the clarity, sharpness and fantastic details that you do with your camera. Very, very nice picture. The contrast against the background is fantastic.
Thanks for sharing!
Marius.

Witaj Aniu,
Excellent colours and sharpness. the very pretty frame on interesting in terms of colour the background.
Gratuluje i pozdrawiam
Roma

Hello Anna,
great capture of this bird with excellent sharpness and lovely details. I especially like the beautiful colours and your well chosen POV.
Best wishes,
Helmut

Hello Anna

WOW ! excellent and very beautiful photo of the
African Wattled Lapwing, with very fine POV and DOF,
beautiful light, excellent focus, sharpness, details, TFS

Asbed

A very different Lapwing from the one we see in India, Anna.
All the same, it is a very handsome bird owing to variety of colours on it and that yellow appendage on its face.
A well managed shot in the bright mid-day light.
Thanks and regards.
Ram

Hi Anna, when are you going to publish a bird book?
What a delightful photo. Great lighting, good feather detail and sharpness, nice composition.
Glad to have you back!
Peter

Hallo Anna,
What a beautiful sharp and detailed capture of this African Wattled Lapwing. Splendid colours, pose, DOF and low POV. Excellent work done here.
Best regards,
Carl

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2012-06-12 12:38]

Hello Anna,
I hope you are fully recovered from your op.
This is a super capture of the African Wattled Lapwing. The sharpness is top and the fine OOF natural BG gives it both contrast and an insight into its habitat with the blu-green algae still sticking to its feet.
Well done, this is a top shot.
Thanks and best regards,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2012-06-12 19:39]

Hello Anna, hope you are recovering quickly from your surgery.
A beautifully marked bird with such odd looking wattles hanging from it's cheeks. It looks like it is crying long yellow tears. As always you managed to capture your subject in an attractive stance while showing exceptional detail and natural coloration.
I can see from his lower legs that he was busy searching through the green algae for food, as he left plenty on them. I have to wonder why they would choose dung to line their nest with?
Ron

Hello Anna,
Welcome back and hope you are recovering quickly from your operation,
A great captured of this African Wattled Lapwing, very well exposure, good sharpness and nice colours,
Thanks for sharing and have a nice afternoon,
Best Regards,
Bungbing.

Bom dia Anna
Superb capture of this wonderful bird.Great composition in lateral POV,wonderful colours and light and excellent details.Congrats!
Thank You for the note.
Best wishes
J.Diogo

Hello Anna my vriendin,
Ek glo nie jy kan ooit in jou lewe 'n slegte foto neem nie. Hierdie een is weer eens net 'n bewys daarvan. Ek was hierdie keer nie so gelukkig toe ons by die Sunsetdam was nie want daar was net te veel motors. Fantastiese foto. Geniet jou naweek.
Lovies
Natley

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2012-06-18 8:26]

Hi Anna.
It is a very nice bird. I like its slim legs and elegant shapes as well as yellow adornment. Surroundings are also fine and reproduced nicely. As usual your image has 3D-look. It is great. My kind regards and TFS.
Alexei.

Hello Anna,
First of all we are happy that you are come back with an extra ordinary picture of this African Wattled Lapwing. nice capture with splendid sharpness and good colour.
with best wishes,
samiran

Hallo Anna,
Nog 'n voorbeeld van die uitstaande gehalte van jou werk en wat 'n pragtige beeld. As dit sou help sou ek ook so 'n kamera aanskaf maar ek is bevrees die fotograaf agter die kamera is netso belangrik. Ek wonder net wat jy uiteindelik met al die fantastiese foto's gaan doen, veral die van die voëls van die Kruger Wildtuin. Dit kan mos nie net eenkeer hier vertoon word nie want dit verdien baie meer erkenning. Beste groete.
Neels

Hi Anna,

The bird is well placed in the frame. The point of view is showing the detqails and colors of the African Wattled Lapwing. It is clear and sharp. The afternoon light is enhancing the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Bom dia Anna,
Cute longleg bird and what a great shot.
Good use of thirdies rule, natural light and colors and remarkable sharpness.
Cheers,
R.

Una maravilla de ave que no conocía. Preciosos colores y buena luz.
Buen fin de semana Anna: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • Chiza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 133 W: 0 N: 474] (5351)
  • [2012-08-15 15:50]

Hermosa especie que no conocía, me gusta el entorno, color y lo bien que se aprecia la especie...saludos.

  • Great 
  • deons Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 58 W: 0 N: 55] (595)
  • [2012-08-16 2:33]

Hi Anna
Very sharp and well exposed image of the Lapwing. The bird stands out nicely against the background. I stay next to Vaaldam and we see this bird regularly when we have a bird count.
TFS Deon

Hi Anna this is a delightful looking bird that makes me thick of avocets and killdeer for some of the plumage detail reminds me of them and if it had a comb in additon to the yellow wattles then I would think of chickens as well-cool looking bird!You have very nice and rich saturated colour and a clear sharp focus with very little over exposed.This bird likes to walk in the water as it has green plant matter stuck to it's legs.Little details like that make photos sing and this one really does.Thank you sharing this little shorebird with us.

Bob

Hello Anna,
Very interesting bird. Our lapwing have much shorter legs, crest on its head.
Regards
Lucja

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