Hole 13
BLACK-FRONTED PLOVER
Black-fronted Plovers are enchanting little birds that find ideal habitat on the edges of the lakes here on South Lakes. They are quite common, but they are very small, about 15 cms, and you need to look very carefully to see them.
When the lakes are low, they sit very still or move very slowly on the very edge of the water. Their markings and small size make them exceedingly difficult to spot. The lake by the 12th green and the ladies 13th tee is a great spot to see them when the lake is low.
All plovers lay their eggs on bare ground, gravel or beach. However, if potential predators approach both parents will pretend to be injured by dragging a wing along the ground to draw the predator away from the camouflaged egg.
The Black-fronted Plover, like its cousins the Hooded Plover, Red Kneed Plover etc are beautiful little birds that were formerly called Dotterels. Like the Masked Lapwings, their name was changed to align their common name with similar species around the world.