Western Willet Nestled In Sage
While I was up in Box Elder County last week I photographed my first Western Willet of the year nestled in sage with its eye on the sky for possible predators.
Adult Western Willet Close Up
When the Willets first arrive I often hear them before I see them, they can be quite the chatterboxes early in the spring. Later in the season they aren't quite as vocal.
Photographing A Calling Willet On A Rocky Hillside
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.
I Swear I heard A Willet Calling Two Days Ago
While looking for Sage Thrashers to photograph on Antelope Island two days ago I swear I heard a Willet call. It was just one distant call but my ears perked up right away.
No Willet Split Plus Other Nerdy Bird News
Just because Willets weren't split this year doesn't mean they won't be split in the future, who knows what changes will be made a year from now.
Possible Eastern and Western Willet Split in 2017
The question regarding this proposal is... Willet happen?
Two Late Migrating Willets and Exposed Bioherms
While looking for odd ducks on the Great Salt Lake yesterday I spotted two late migrating willets on what I thought was an exposed sandbar.
Willet Close Ups
There was a very cooperative Willet on Antelope Island Yesterday that was close to a road and perched in sweet light and I couldn't resist taking portraits of this lovely shorebird.
Western Willets on Antelope Island
There are two subspecies of Willets in North America and during the breeding season in Utah the birds we see are the Western subspecies.
Listening for Willets
I have often written how I long to hear the first Long-billed Curlew in the spring but I feel I should mention that I also anxiously await the first calls of migrating Willets too.
Tiptoeing Willet
Normally I prefer to have my subjects larger in the frame than this image of a Willet tiptoeing on the surface of the Great Salt Lake as it landed.
Our Willets have returned
Yesterday for the first time this season I saw and heard Willets on Antelope Island State Park.
Juvenile Willet looking for prey
It won't be long before I start seeing juvenile Willets that are about the size of the one pictured here.
Willet on Antelope Island State Park
Just a simple Willet image today that I took on Antelope Island State Park earlier this month.
The Willets and Biting Gnats are back on Antelope Island
The Willets are moving into their nesting territory on Antelope Island State Park and I am excited about that. What I am not excited about is that the biting gnats (no-see-ums) are back too.
Soon Willets will be arriving in Utah
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.
Eastern and Western Willets in breeding plumage
I've had the good fortune to photograph both the eastern and western Willets in breeding plumage, the eastern in Florida and the western in Utah and Montana.
Willets in Beaverhead County, Montana
These images were taken at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Montana. There were two Willets; an adult and a juvenile, on the shoreline of the lower lake that delighted me.
Plain Brown Bird?? Pfflllt…
I've heard people call Willets "Plain Brown Birds". I reckon they may have never seen one looking like this Willet.
Willets – In Utah and Florida
Willets have returned to Utah, on the causeway to Antelope Island hundreds of them can be seen in the shallow water. They seem to spend some time there fattening up after migration before they get down to the serious business of mating and rearing their young.
One Willet’s defense of its young
Yesterday I observed an adult Willet defending its young from a group of Black-billed Magpies that were near the Willet's chicks.