Wild Birds of Europe

Jan1977 said:
And a bit more peacefull, lapwings in formation. This was a small amount, also have some shots of a larger flock, but that turned out very busy for the eyes with just too many lapwings.
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I saw this last year in June, a large group of them flying about, landing in a field. You would think migrating, but it wasn't that time of year yet. At least I don't think so. They usually gather in large groups in the Fall to go south but not in June. Right?
 
Jan1977 said:
Also reminded me of some photos of a crow and a buzzard, suddenly having a mid-air argument, while I was photographing something else. So more or less point and shoot, but it was more about the moment.
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Do predators ever turn on their attackers, kill them even? Or are these smaller birds moving too fast for them to even try?
 
JohnPD said:
Do predators ever turn on their attackers, kill them even? Or are these smaller birds moving too fast for them to even try?
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I wondered about it myself as well. I guess it is a 'human' way of thinking that way. This behavior may be territory driven rather than showing off who is the strongest and when you are the strongest just hot on the smaller species.
I'd guess the ego's of the animals aren't pushing them to kill other species or smaller individual of their own species. They only kill for food or as self defense, but mid-air gives room to fight or get away.

I believe predators will get small singing birds so I guess in some case they are fast and agile enough to catch some of the smaller fast species.
 
Levina said:
I saw this last year in June, a large group of them flying about, landing in a field. You would think migrating, but it wasn't that time of year yet. At least I don't think so. They usually gather in large groups in the Fall to go south but not in June. Right?
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I don't know much about the migrating habits of the lapwings. I know I see them regularly at the nearby lowland location and see juveniles in spring/ early summer there as well. Last weekend there quite a bunch of them in the lowlands:
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Jan1977 said:
I don't know much about the migrating habits of the lapwings. I know I see them regularly at the nearby lowland location and see juveniles in spring/ early summer there as well. Last weekend there quite a bunch of them in the lowlands:
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Yeah, that's migrating behaviour, birds gathering in large groups. No doubt coming in from the south to breed here? It seems a bit early though, but what else could it be?
 
Jan1977 said:
I wondered about it myself as well. I guess it is a 'human' way of thinking that way. This behavior may be territory driven rather than showing off who is the strongest and when you are the strongest just hot on the smaller species.
I'd guess the ego's of the animals aren't pushing them to kill other species or smaller individual of their own species. They only kill for food or as self defense, but mid-air gives room to fight or get away.
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Maybe this behaviour is also territorial but I think their main reason is protecting their offspring, their nests. I see it in Waterland in breeding colonies. As soon as a buzzard or harrier or whatever shows its face, the adults go after him, chasing him away, or distract him also maybe, trying to protect their young.

Jan1977 said:
I believe predators will get small singing birds so I guess in some case they are fast and agile enough to catch some of the smaller fast species.
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I've never seen it myself but, sure, no doubt some of the birds get caught and killed in the process.
 
I've got my laptop back so now it's grey and foggy again:cry:
(and they couldn’t find the fault, it turns on again but that means there's an intermittent hardware problem, probably waiting for the warranty to run out...)
 
pcs said:
I've got my laptop back so now it's grey and foggy again:cry:
(and they couldn’t find the fault, it turns on again but that means there's an intermittent hardware problem, probably waiting for the warranty to run out...)
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Well, fingers crossed in that case... and forecasts are there will be some more sun the upcoming days and on the other hand you have had plenty of time to practice photographing under grey and foggy conditions... ;)
 
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