Fingers crossed

Lapwings
Originally uploaded by wherethewolvesare.

I remember the first time I ever saw a lapwing I thought I must have found something really rare. With a bottle green back, tan undercarriage and that bizarre tuft, you can see my point. They're quite common here (although not quite as common as they were) and no less spectacular for it.

There's at least one pair regularly displaying near the Parlington Estate, lolloping about the sky the same way I imagine I would if I learnt to fly - until I got good at it. With a bit of luck, they'll attempt to breed. It's been a long winter by UK standards leading to them starting a bit late and they might get caught out if the farmer cuts back the weeds too early. But we live in hope, so fingers crossed.

By the way, in my sketch the lapwings legs are the wrong colour, they should be dark pinky red. Don't know what I was thinking, I must have been having a yellow day.