Calling Prairie Willet on a rocky hillside – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
It was a pleasure for me to see and photograph a Willet two days ago on Antelope Island State Park and this willet even started calling which made it even more of a pleasure for me.
Shorebirds have always been a favorite subject for me so it is always a thrill for me to have one in my viewfinder. The Prairie Willets have only recently returned to northern Utah and this one may have been calling in the hopes of finding a mate to breed with.
Last year I didn’t photograph much on the island after the biting gnats (no-see-ums) emerged so I missed out on taking many images of the Prairie Willets while they displayed and nested.
The biting gnats have emerged again so it may be a while before I go back to Antelope Island because I have really bad reactions to their bites.
Once our temps reach the mid 90’s for several days in a row the biting gnats will disappear but until then it is not healthy for me to be out there.
This Prairie Willet didn’t stick around very long, I’d only taken about 50 images of it before it flew up the rocky slope and called some more from a higher elevation.
Our Prairie Willets prefer grasslands and prairies as their breeding grounds and Antelope Island has plenty of undisturbed grassy areas for them to nest in where they can raise their young.
I sure love hearing the Prairie Willets call and seeing them flash their wings while they work on attracting mates. It is a good thing I know of other places where I can see and photograph them where I don’t have to unwillingly donate my blood to biting gnats.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Prairie Willet photos plus facts and information about this species.
Update: Willets were split into two species in October 2026. Eastern willets are now Saltmarsh Willets, Tringa semipalmata. Western willets are now Prairie Willets, Tringa inornata. This post has been updated to reflect those changes.
I am sorry to hear that as well as being unpleasant those gnats have more serious consequences for you. And love the calling Willet.
Lovely bird, I always enjoy hearing them call. I hope you did not get any gnat bites.
So interesting to see this common shorebird on a rocky outcrop!
Thank you for the willet, a favorite and most common shorebird resident of our salt marsh: your images a lovely harbinger…good luck avoiding those gnats!