The early bird - the saying goes - catches the worm. Not so, according to work done by scientist Simon Gillings who carried out a study of lapwings and golden plovers.

The University of East Anglia researcher's findings in Norfolk and Suffolk are relevant to the North-East because the Pennines are home to some of the most important national populations of both species.

His study, part of a Phd, revealed that the birds actually feed more at night than was first thought.

Mr Gillings said: "Lapwings and golden plovers are a bit like teenagers - they are out all night and then spend the days loafing around."

A lapwing needs 600 kJs (kiloJoules) of energy per day, equivalent to three bananas or a packet of crisps.

Worms are the most efficient way of meeting that demand because a 5in worm contains an energy content of about ten kJs.

Lapwings can find three times as many of the big worms at night as they can in the daytime, because the worms are only active and near the surface then.

Mr Gillings said: "You don't just have to get up early to find your worm if you are a lapwing, you have to stay up all night."