Holes in my lawn

[Redavocadoes]

Any idea what this is? It's multiple finger sized holes that have suddenly appeared in my lawn.

Have poked with a stick and nothing came out.....

In the UK

Pics below with B/W pic for clarity

Birds digging for grubs?

I agree it could be birds, maybe looking for cranefly grubs (leatherjackets) ?

Does anyone in your family have a dibber and a certain amount of rage to work out?

It will be starlings looking for leatherjackets. They are the disgusting inch-long larvae of daddy-long-legs aka crane flies, and live underground, eating your lawn's roots.

Only me, but no dibber! 😂

Haven't seen any starlings around, but I did go out for a few hours. Maybe they waited till I'd gone then worked quickly.

I'm just concerned if something really gruesome is going to hatch out...

Had no idea craneflies laid eggs underground!!

You’ve got leatherjackets.

https://greenmanlawncare.co.uk/leatherjackets/

Good news! Now is the perfect time to treat your lawn with nematodes (no issues for humans, pets or wildlife)

Steinernema feltiae

Thank you all! On Amazon ordering nematode!