This Northern Lapwing, a very rare visitor from Europe, was found yesterday in a rural area with large open agricultural fields in Virginia Beach near Back Bay. The word went out quickly and a number of us lucky birders were able to see it. Even at some distance the photo shows the delicate iridescent colors on the wings and back and the elegant, wispy crest. It was feeding with dozens of Killdeer and several Black-bellied Plovers. There are some other records further north this winter on the east coast, indicating some kind of out-of-range movement.
Brian Taber
