Willet calling – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
March is a month when I begin to anticipate the arrival of Willets, I have been listening carefully for them and hoping to catch sight of them along the causeway to Antelope Island any day now.
I took these images in 2011 on a day that didn’t have great light when the Willets were exhibiting courtship behavior. The Willet stood on this rock calling for quite a while, off and on.
Willet in courtship display - Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/750, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Then when another Willet flew into the area the Willet lifted its wings in a courtship display. These birds don’t look so plain when their wings are lifted! The call can be heard here.
By the way, those little blurry specks in this frame are Midges and before long we will be seeing those too.
The weather has warmed up here and this coming week is forecasted to be sunny, and who knows, I might just see and hear my first Willet of the year!
Mia
More Willet images
Catching up on posts, too busy this weekend. I like that first photo, looks like it is telling the world something….
Sherry, I’m trying to catch up too! Thanks for your comment.
Awesome detail on this bird! It is nice to see the breeding plumage.
Thank you Julie.
Love the Willets. Haven’t done shore birding in a few years, so I haven’t seen one since 2010. Hopefully that will change this year!
I hope you will get to see plenty of shorebirds this year Kathleen.
beautifull attitude for the second picture, there a very nice contrast under the wings, well done mia ☺
see you soon
Eric
Thanks Eric!
We spotted them in late April last year at a birding festival in AZ , but never got to see this behavior. Beautiful shot as always Mia
Thanks Bonnie! I hope you do get to see this behavior.
Even if I could get to see these marvelous birds in the field, I dought I’d enjoy them more than these two marvelous photos which permit me to linger a while and enjoy the feathering, the depth of the complexity that is a Willet. Many thanks!
Thank you Merrill, they do have wonderful detail in their plumage
Wonderful birds that are easy to take for granted around here since they’re so prevalent. I hope to get photos of chicks this year.
Thank you Wally! They are wonderful
Lovely photos Mia, hope you see and hear the Willets soon:)
Thanks Susan
Great captures, Mia! The colors of the Willet contrast beautifully against the soft blue background!!
Thank you Tammy. I do love the warm browns and tans against that soft blue.
Great pictures of the Willets.
Thanks Bob!