Lapwings are back

Lapwings never cease to fill me with wonder and admiration.

I LOVE this time of year. The Curlews and the Lapwings tend to arrive around where I live at the same time, and the air rings with the musical tones of their calls as they search for the best nesting spot and look for their partner.

I’m a bit disappointed by their numbers this year, there’s definitely a lot fewer than last year.

But their calls are just as iconic, and they are just as protective of their eggs and young.

This year I decided to sculpt my own lapwing, who I was going to get cast in bronze. After watching them I realised that their wing motion is similar to that of an owl in flight. It’s funny the things you notice when you take the time to look properly at something. I captured the pose of them landing from a flight but I wasn’t happy with the legs and feet, so they’re drying in the studio. I might fire them and make the legs after, we’ll see. Even if I don’t finish this one, I will make another because they’re such characterful birds.