Photos by Donna

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A common species in Europe and Asia, there are occasional rare sightings of the Northern Lapwing along the east coast of the United States and Canada.

Two days ago I saw a fellow Maryland blogger’s post on his sighting of the Northern Lapwing in Maryland about a half hour from me, and I was out the door within the hour!  Thank you, BiologistSoup!  Not only for the great post and tip, but this also let me know my ebird alerts for Queen Anne’s County were disengaged….I fixed that right away too!  😉

Welcome to my bird lifer list #248 Northern Lapwing!  💃🤗😊

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Northern Lapwing in center of circle, Snow Geese in the background (full frame)

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For three days and continuing, the Northern Lapwing has been on private property on the far shoreline of the pond, seen only from the road.  It was a reach for my lens to focus from the shoulder; but I am still delighted and thankful!

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Northern Lapwing surrounded by Snow Geese feathers

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Winter storms in the Atlantic have occasionally been associated with small influxes of Northern Lapwings in North America.  Wonder if this one arrived by storm?

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Northern Lapwing in flight

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I got to see the Northern Lapwing take flight three times due to passing Eagles and Snow Geese disturbances.  After circling off in the background, it would return to the same muddy area of the pond and land.  Here’s my best two flight shots.

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Northern Lapwing in flight

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The Lapwing’s disturbances were added awesome birding experiences and photo ops for us 3-4 cars still on the road’s shoulder.

Two adults and one juvenile Eagle made their appearances known with several fly-bys.  Thousands of Snow Geese also came in for a landing and began taking over the pond at one point (post forthcoming!).  The lone Northern Lapwing had to hide from sight in a clump of grasses, poor little one.  But s/he reappeared when the geese did another lift-off back out and away from the pond.  Those Eagles had everyone in a tizzy!

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