Włodzimierz Meissner, Arkadiusz Sikora, Jacek Antczak, Sebastian Guentzel, Przemysław Wylegała
Ornis Polonica 2016, 57: 248–263
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2016.4.1
Abstract: In autumn 2014 the third census of Lapwings Vanellus vanellus and Eurasian Golden Plovers Pluvialis apricaria was carried out. A total of 113,254 Lapwings and 43,138 Golden Plovers were recorded at 368 sites in October, while in November 293 sites hosted 21,029 Lapwings and 27,036 Golden Plovers. Both species were more common in northern Poland, compared to remaining parts of the country, and it hosted 81% and 88% of all Lapwings and Golden Plovers, respectively, in October, and 84% and 83% in November. Most flocks of Lapwings consisted of 101–500 birds (41% of flocks in October and 29% in November), while the medium flock size was 170 ind. in October and 80 ind. in November. In October Golden Plovers usually formed flocks of 101–500 birds (19%), but in November the most frequent (26%) were flocks containing 11–50 birds. An average flock of Golden Plovers consisted of 97 birds in October and 62 in November. During both months mixed flocks constituted 26% of all. Lapwings dominated in 72% of mixed flocks, while in 22% Golden Plovers. In October 36% of Lapwings stayed in the fields with winter-crops, whereas 24% in the fields without winter-crops. Golden Plovers were also encountered mostly in these two habitat types (52% and 28%, respectively). In November Lapwings were observed mostly on fish ponds (67%) and the share of birds in the fields with winter-crops dropped to 25%. In October 2014 Poland hosted 1–2% of the North European population of the Lapwing, and about 4–7% of the Golden Plover population, indicating the importance of this area for these species.
Keywords: autumn migration, Golden Plover, habitat use, Lapwing
