Portrait of an adult Killdeer – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
One year ago today I left home when the sky was still dark, cranked up the stereo in my Jeep, headed for the marshes at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and arrived at the exit off of I-15 just as the sun came up over the Wasatch Mountains in the east. The sky was clear except for a smattering of clouds over the mountains and I had grand views in all directions.
The sun felt warm on my skin and by the time I headed towards the auto tour route I had turned off my stereo so I could listen to the sounds of the bird life on the way. I heard the calls of Long-billed Curlews, Sandhill Cranes, Savannah Sparrows and Marsh Wrens before I even got to the auto tour route. I could have turned my Jeep around then and would have still been happy to have made the trip but I wanted to see the marshes, the birds and relax in the peace and quiet of the marsh.
The birds that I photographed the most that lovely March morning were Killdeer, they seemed to show up practically everywhere I looked. I had my best opportunities to take close up photos of Killdeer that I have ever had and I took full advantage of each chance I had with them. By pulling off to the side of the muddy road I was able to sit and wait patiently for the Killdeer to approach me and that strategy paid off.
Marsh at Bear River MBR on a sunny March morning plus three midges – Nikon D810, f11, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 18mm, natural light
By the time the end of March arrives in northern Utah the marshes are generally ice free and spring migrants have already started to arrive. The midges that are found at the refuge and are essentially “bird food on the wing” have usually started to make an appearance. This photo shows three midges in flight on the left side of the frame just over the tops of the Promontory Mountains. I could have easily cloned them out in post processing but I figured that they were there when I took the photo and opted to leave them in the image.
This morning the ground outside my window is wet from rain, there are clouds in the sky and I won’t be heading up north to take photos of birds at Bear River MBR or anywhere else.
One year ago today I would never have thought that millions of people would be taking shelter and isolating in our homes to protect ourselves from a dangerous viral pandemic. Or that we’d be so concerned about having enough toilet paper, being within 6 feet of another person, wondering when this will end, or facing such extraordinary uncertainty about our future as individuals or as a country.
Stay safe.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Killdeer photos plus facts and information about this species.
It’s good to see the habitat as well as the bird!
Wonderful portrait. The Killdeers eye is stunning and the detail you captured is [as always] terrific. The landscape shot is equally compelling. Great pics, Mia. Thanks.
BTW – Here in San Diego the run on toilet paper has been absolutely ridiculous. You can’t find it on market shelves and big box stores like Costco have had to place a 2 package limit on everyone so there’s enough to go around. The rub of it is, there’s plenty of T/P available but the hoarding is keeping the shelves empty. Friends of ours in Denver, Dallas, Phoenix and LA, say it’s the same where they live. I don’t get it. Scotch I understand…but T/P?
These lovely birds are at the top of the list of critters I miss since I moved away from Utah. They were prolific where we lived and seeing fluffy chicks scurrying about always made my day. Seeing them usually made me giggle, too.
Mia – Thanks, as always, for your thoughtful and thought provoking presentation. This “extraordinary uncertainty” we’re all experiencing right now will hopefully alert us to our own nature, and the often ignored nature of the other life forms that are forced to share this planet with us. “Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher.” ~ William Wordsworth
Love the portrait – and the scene.
Stay well, stay safe.
This too will pass.
Stunning Killdeer portrait. That eye is amazing, as is the feather detail. The BRMBR landscape — midges and all — is just what I needed to see this morning.
The images remind you of different times … times we are learning to appreciate even more than we did when we were experiencing them. Facing the uncertainty adds value, retroactively, to the “life is good” days in the past.
I did not notice until today what beautiful eyes Killdeers have. A wonderful portrait, Mia. All that blue in the landscape with the reflections lifted me up–so much promise of Spring that I am not seeing here yet. I am happy that you left the midges in, because they are so much a part of the area, although later you will most likely despise them.
Killdeer seemed to pop up out of nowhere last week. One day they weren’t there and the next day they were everywhere that I went to with my camera. Scads of them. My favourite place to go to photograph wildlife has been closed off. I think when I saw that, that is when the isolation hit home. Stay well.
ExceptionAl photos,mia