A Red Wattled Lapwing guarding her precious eggs.

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She was concerned because she had spotted a juvenile Monitor Lizard checking out her eggs. We watched her face-off with the lizard, but due to my poor photography skills the images of the confrontation did not come out well.

They are found near to water bodies, fields, dry lands and lakes. Though, they can be easily seen in wild and open grasslands looking for insects. Mostly, this bird is found in pairs or small groups. Its striking appearance is supplemented by its noisy nature, with a loud and scolding Ti-Ti-Ti-Ti call.

Their breeding season is mainly March to August. The courtship involves the male puffing its feathers and pointing its beak upwards. Several males may display to females. The eggs are laid in a ground scrape or depression sometimes fringed with pebbles, goat or hare droppings. They soak their belly feathers to provide water to their chicks as well as to cool the eggs during hot weather. The eggs hatch in 28 to 30 days. Egg mortality is high due to predation by lizards, mongooses and kites.

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