CROSSBREEDING BLACKSMITH’S & SPUR-WINGED LAPWINGS-RESEARCH BY Samuel Lenard Chihana in LIWONDE NATIONAL PARK (MW)
I was very inquisitive during the whole month of October, 2011. When I was doing Boat Safaris, I could see this Blacksmith’s Lapwing chasing all Spur-winged Lapwings around this area apart from one Spur-winged Lapwing which was always very close to this Blacksmith’s Lapwing. I suspected it was an amazing Pair, but I was not brave enough to say anything about their relationship. What I did was to take several Boat Safaris down stream, where I had non-bird watchers I could stop for Big Crocs and Hippos which were best seen at this place while I keep on observing these Lapwings each time I have a Boat Safari.
On 15th November, 2011 I saw the Blacksmith’s Lapwing chasing other Spur-winged Lapwings and all the other birds around this area, later on I saw this Lapwing sitting on the nest. The other day on 21st November, 2011 I saw the eggs from the Boat.
On 22nd November, I asked for an Early Morning Guides’ Walk at 5:00a.m instead of doing other tasks at the Camp. I asked all the Safari Guides’ to join me with an aim of showing every one to know this Crossbreeding Pair and to try taking photo of their eggs.
Only two of us managed to do this Walk. My friend Frank joined me and we saw and I took photo of Crossbreed eggs which were four.
Eggs of Crossbreeding Blacksmith’s & Spur-winged Lapwings at Skimmer bank South of
Among 54 Bird species we saw this day those birds we saw competing with this pair at Skimmer Bank were as follows:
3 Ospreys, 2 Red necked Falcon, 4 African Sacred Ibis, 2 Common Squacco Herons, 1 Lilac Breasted Rollers, 4 African Jacana, 3 Black Crake, 1 Yellow-billed Egret, Great White Egret, 2 African Skimmers, 1+3 Green Shank fighting with the female Spur-winged Lapwing related to Blacksmith’s Lapwing, Egyptian Geese pair with 4 chicks, 1 Marsh Sandpiper, 2 Black Egret, Common Sandpipers, 3 Pied Kingfishers, 2 Openbills, 1 Great Painted Snipe, 1 Malachite Kingfishers, 2 Wattled Lapwing, 1 Three-banded plover, 1Spur-winged Goose, 1African Darter, 1African Fish Eagle with its juv. , Elephant bull was near the area as well, 1 Hadida Ibis, 1Green backed Heron, Grey Heron, 2Yellow billed Stork, Hippos were passing the nesting site.
On 29th November, 2011 I saw this pair’s eggs hatched three chicks the third chick had just been hatched was help less and one egg was still on the nest the female was still incubating it.
Crossbreeding Pair Blacksmith’s & Spur-winged Lapwings with their newly hatched chick one of the three chicks seen on 29th November, 2011.
About a couple of 100metre from the nest there is a Hybrid breeding with a Spur winged Lapwing with one chick older than the three chicks.
HYBRID BETWEEN BLACKSMITH’S & SPUR-WINGED LAPWINGS
This Hybrid is breeding with a Spur-winged Lapwing and they have one chick. Its call is got similar syllables with Blacksmith’s but sounds different to both father and mother. The following Photos the Hybrid Lapwing in water and its wife female Spur-winged Lapwing with the almost sub-adult young bred with the Hybrid.
A Hybrid male Lapwing in Shire river Spur-winged Lapwing female & juv.
The first Spur-winged Lapwing was observed in
Spur-winged Lapwing & juv likely to survive, photo from a Boat Safari.
Blacksmith’s Lapwing Crossbreed with Spur-winged Lapwing; PHOTOS below: Vanellus armatus x Vanellus spinosus = Vanellus armatuspinosus mvuuensis
Blacksmith’s & Spur-winged Cross breeding Produced this Hybrid Lapwing
Second Site of Spur-winged Lapwing was in Dwangwa Sugar Estate Ethanol factory sludge settlement Tanks from December, 1997.
Third Site was Mpasanjoka Dambo South end in December, 2002.
Fourth Site was Mkhumba on the Western Shore of
When I sent the Sighting Report to Dr John Wilson he said “HYBRIDISATION has been strongly suspected in
Hybrid Lapwing appearance from front.
LOOK UP IN SAMUEL’S POCKET NOTE BOOK
23/11/2011 Hybrid Pair found with one chick other two not seen. African Hobby Falcon chasing some birds around the area another worry on survival of chicks. Blacksmith’s Lapwing & Spur-winged Lapwing found at nesting area Blacksmith’s found incubating the eggs at last.
29/11/2011 Blacksmith’s & Spur-winged Lapwing Pair hatched three chicks while incubating the last egg.
4/12/2011 5:00am – 7:30am Blacksmith’s & Spur-winged Lapwing Pair seen, their chicks not seen. Hybrid Pair seen, their chicks not seen.
10/12/2011 11:30am-12:00am on Boat we watched Blacksmith’s & Spur-winged Pair and their two chicks seen. They were guarding chicks in turns. Hybrid Pair seen and one chick seen big enough to survive.
18/12/2011 Boat Safari 7:45am-10:30am Blacksmith’s & Spur-winged Lapwing Pair with two chicks seen same area. Hybrid Pair seen with their chick now sub-adult under a Fever Trees on Shire River bank at the mouth of Nangondo stream.
21/12/2011 Blacksmith’s & Spur-winged Pair seen defending chicks from Yellow Baboons feeding on grass roots and water hycith near the river. Hybrid Pair seen with their chick flying long distances together. GUESTS: Samantha Montgomery was among the Guests Email: coucal@hotmail.co.uk
25/01/2012 4:00pm-5:45pm Boat, I was alone after being away for about a week time-off. Both Pairs did not appear. I walked around 200square meters to look for these Lapwings, I did not find any. The water level is very high they moved away from the river side.
26/01/2012 8:00am-10:30am Drive and Walk at SKIMMER BANK. I walked with Eitenne an Eco-Training Guide, we covered about 400square meters to look for these Lapwings still both Pairs did not appear.
31/01/2012 I went to check these Lapwings again now with a Lilongwe based Children In The Wilderness Manager, SYMON CHIWAKA. I managed to find a female Spur-winged Lapwing a wife for the Hybrid, she did not move from the spot for along time, by the time I left she had moved about 30cm only. From that day I have not seen any Lapwing from these important Lapwings.
REFERENCES: SOME EYE WITNESSES ON MY SAFARIS: 10/12/2011-Alicia Brauer email: alajaga@02.pl, 20/11/2011- Neil Greenwood email: ngreenwood@ifaw.org, & Blaine Houris email bhooris@ifaw.org, Dr John Wilson a Malawi Wetland Birds Coordinator based in Zomba- JOHN WILSON <johnwilson26313@gmail.com>; jut to mention a few of all my Guests on Safaris congratulations to you all who managed to see these Birds.
18/03/2012 JUSTIN MWAIWATHA on Boat in the morning saw what he calls a strange Blacksmith’s Lapwing with a normal Blacksmith’s Lapwing at Skimmer Bank. He reported to me in the afternoon, I imidiatetly drove to Skimmer Bank to try and take a photo. I did not find the two amusing birds.
I am sure the strange Blacksmith’s Lapwing Justin saw was one of this years chicks because the way he describe it, it resembles a Blacksmith, was not as very active as the Blacksmith they were together but with white parches on the face while the first Hybrid resemble a Spur winged Lapwing with a black head and white parches on chest and face as you can see Photos above.
To be continued by you……..during your visit to Mvuu Camp & Lodge-LIWONDE.