Lapwing nest predation

[crow killer]

Im fuming, a lapwing which was sat on eggs for 2 weeks has been predated it was on the nest on Saturday night, not on on Sunday morning, close to a man made scrape built last year to attract waders, theres fox prints around in mud, hen bird was still there, i watched from a distance ,but no chicks, so definitely predated, its unlikely it will re lay now, as its late and has already sat for a fortnight.
Another sitting was flattened by a fertilizer spreading tractor. Another had 3 chicks close to another large scrape, they looked to be a few days old, then 3 days later they hd gone, went into the area and again, fox prints all over in the soft mud, theres another 2 nests in fields both with 4 eggs. Ive shot 10 foxes in that area this year up to mid April. Theyre a massive threat to nesters, which are very vulnerable , the wy theyve declined they will go the same way as curlew, which this year have not been in this area, Corncrakes were once widespread no one now remembers that as its so long ago, urgent action is needed to protect the waders that we have left. Ill certainly be continuing my war on carrions and foxes. Its a very sad situation.

 

[Tim.243]

Im fuming, a lapwing which was sat on eggs for 2 weeks has been predated it was on the nest on Saturday night, not on on Sunday morning, close to a man made scrape built last year to attract waders, theres fox prints around in mud, hen bird was still there, i watched from a distance ,but no chicks, so definitely predated, its unlikely it will re lay now, as its late and has already sat for a fortnight.
Another sitting was flattened by a fertilizer spreading tractor. Another had 3 chicks close to another large scrape, they looked to be a few days old, then 3 days later they hd gone, went into the area and again, fox prints all over in the soft mud, theres another 2 nests in fields both with 4 eggs. Ive shot 10 foxes in that area this year up to mid April. Theyre a massive threat to nesters, which are very vulnerable , the wy theyve declined they will go the same way as curlew, which this year have not been in this area, Corncrakes were once widespread no one now remembers that as its so long ago, urgent action is needed to protect the waders that we have left. Ill certainly be continuing my war on carrions and foxes. Its a very sad situation.

You can only do your best, a bird sanctuary in their dopy wisdom put out trail cams by 6 nests with a fox following the sent to all 6 and cleared them up.
TBH the tractor driver has a job to do, what do you expect the driver to do?

 

[VSS]

You can only do your best, a bird sanctuary in their dopy wisdom put out trail cams by 6 nests with a fox following the sent to all 6 and cleared them up.
TBH the tractor driver has a job to do, what do you expect the driver to do?

Tractor driver should have driven around it, if he was aware that it was there.
I can remember putting my hat over a clutch of lapwing eggs to protect them while I cultivating in close proximity to a nest, then removing it when I moved on. The hen bird returned to the nest afterwards and they successfully hatched. Done the same with a pheasant nest.

 

[Rhodesianjess]

We've lost 8 nests plus the sitting hen,all pheasant, this year with the silage cutting. First thing the driver knew was a big puff of feathers! Unfortunately hazard of the job, they go at some speed when they're working.

 

[BenBhoy]

I've half a dozen flags i keep in tractor this time of year to mark anything i want to avoid.

 

[Tim.243]

I've half a dozen flags i keep in tractor this time of year to mark anything i want to avoid.

Then the stable door is well and truly shut now the horse has bolted for the Op.

 

[finnbear270]

Fingers crossed on the nests up on the farm, lost non yet, but it's early days with any surviving cubs being old enough to get around.

 

[BenBhoy]

Then the stable door is well and truly shut now the horse has bolted for the Op.

Well I wouldn't use that flag!!

 

[Tim.243]

Well I wouldn't use that flag!!

Your wages are in GBP not Welsh crypto

 

[jall55]

We've lost 8 nests plus the sitting hen,all pheasant, this year with the silage cutting. First thing the driver knew was a big puff of feathers! Unfortunately hazard of the job, they go at some speed when they're working.

Bloody hell - thats terrible

Round us Jess the silage is almost so thick very few ground nesters use it - or maybe im wrong and they do - but surely i would see the damage ?
I must look harder

 

[jall55]

Tractor driver should have driven around it, if he was aware that it was there.
I can remember putting my hat over a clutch of lapwing eggs to protect them while I cultivating in close proximity to a nest, then removing it when I moved on. The hen bird returned to the nest afterwards and they successfully hatched. Done the same with a pheasant nest.

I live in hope that in a few years time - thermal - AI technology will detect nests before they are cut and destroyed
Maybe a drone to "map" an area first

 

[muddy42]

The only place I see ground nesting birds in any numbers is the outer hebrides, where suprise suprise there are no badgers or foxes.

 

[jall55]

Just spoken with GWCT and they are currently using thermal drones to highlight Curlew in grass
As they say work in progress but hope

 

[Drum123]

We are lucky in Wensleydale, lots of keepered estates , lots of curlews and lapwing.
Was a dry week last week so all the farmers were out spreading shite , a job that needs doing but it buggers up a lot of the nests.

 

[finnbear270]

Seem to remember no fox on Arran either.

 

[nick.308]

Interesting place to find a nest. Its been sitting since 18th april. Just wondering if the chicks will be able to hop out and survive the fall....

 

[nightcrow]

We've lost 8 nests plus the sitting hen,all pheasant, this year with the silage cutting. First thing the driver knew was a big puff of feathers! Unfortunately hazard of the job, they go at some speed when they're working.

A friend annihilated two foxes while mowing at night recently,and was thrilled as they had had several of his lambs.

 

[2Ll’s]

Im fuming, a lapwing which was sat on eggs for 2 weeks has been predated it was on the nest on Saturday night, not on on Sunday morning, close to a man made scrape built last year to attract waders, theres fox prints around in mud, hen bird was still there, i watched from a distance ,but no chicks, so definitely predated, its unlikely it will re lay now, as its late and has already sat for a fortnight.
Another sitting was flattened by a fertilizer spreading tractor. Another had 3 chicks close to another large scrape, they looked to be a few days old, then 3 days later they hd gone, went into the area and again, fox prints all over in the soft mud, theres another 2 nests in fields both with 4 eggs. Ive shot 10 foxes in that area this year up to mid April. Theyre a massive threat to nesters, which are very vulnerable , the wy theyve declined they will go the same way as curlew, which this year have not been in this area, Corncrakes were once widespread no one now remembers that as its so long ago, urgent action is needed to protect the waders that we have left. Ill certainly be continuing my war on carrions and foxes. Its a very sad situation.

we have lapwing and Curlew nests on a patch I control the foxes on, they actually attach some sort of GPS to the Curlew chicks, apparently found what was left of two of them outside a badger set over half a mile away last year. Not sure how accurate that is but came from a prominent source.

 

[finnbear270]

we have lapwing and Curlew nests on a patch I control the foxes on, they actually attach some sort of GPS to the Curlew chicks, apparently found what was left of two of them outside a badger set over half a mile away last year. Not sure how accurate that is but came from a prominent source.

I would put money on it being as found.

 

[2Ll’s]

I would put money on it being as found.

More than likely