I'm going to call this bird Joseph because his coat is truly of many iridescent multi-colours.
There are some quite large flocks of Lapwing at Pitsford Reservoir at the moment and they certainly brighten the place up and entertain the crowds with their aerobatics and their calls which sound like '' pee-wit '', hence the old alternative name for the bird.
Not the easiest to get an in flight image of as they flit around, flit is not a word that you would associate with bigger birds but let me tell you these birds flit !.
I came across this Lapwing at Pitsford Reservoir at quite close quarters and managed to get these shots through the car window. The warm evening sunshine gave the light a really good quality.
Lapwings always make me laugh, the markings around their eyes always look to me as if mascara has been applied with a rather shaky hand.
The '' Oil on water '' effect on its upper parts was really shimmering as the sun was by now quite low to the horizon.
So, down to the water where this guy made quite a splash for a good ten minutes before returning to dry land to finish preening.
A lovely encounter.
Bad hair day !
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