{"id":112070,"date":"2023-04-05T03:06:55","date_gmt":"2023-04-05T09:06:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=112070"},"modified":"2023-04-05T03:19:09","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T09:19:09","slug":"killdeer-in-a-spring-snowstorm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/04\/05\/killdeer-in-a-spring-snowstorm\/","title":{"rendered":"Killdeer In A Spring Snowstorm"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday morning, after blowing, shoveling, and scraping about nine to ten inches of snow, I went looking for birds and found a Killdeer in a spring snowstorm.<\/p>\n

\"KilldeerKilldeer standing in water during a snowstorm \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 800, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The light I had wasn’t the best because of the snow-laden clouds overhead. The weather conditions and those clouds created a silvery appearance to the water the Killdeer was standing in. Mounds of snow created a cloud-like background in my images.<\/p>\n

\"KilldeerKilldeer in a spring snowstorm \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 800, +2.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

As the Killdeer moved around I was able to get photos of it that were different and that appealed my sense of taste. I liked the falling snow that many of my images had in them.<\/p>\n

\"KilldeerKilldeer standing in a puddle during a snowstorm \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 800, +2.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The temps were in the upper 20’s and I enjoyed taking photos of this shorebird on day two of a lengthy spring snowstorm. By yesterday I had lost count of how much snow I had blown and shoveled off of the sidewalk and driveway and scraped off of my trusty Jeep.<\/p>\n

\"KilldeerKilldeer portrait in a snowstorm \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 800, +2.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

When the Killdeer moved close enough to me in my Jeep I was delighted to take a few portraits of the striking shorebird. It looked as if I photographed the Killdeer in<\/em> the clouds.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult Killdeer in a spring snow storm \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 800, +2.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

My face and my camera were getting wet so I thanked the Killdeer and went looking for other birds. I felt grateful for being able to take these photos of the Killdeer in a snowstorm.<\/p>\n

So, where was this Killdeer photographed in the snowstorm?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"KilldeerKilldeer in a snowstorm next to a parking space stripe \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 800, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Would you believe an urban parking lot? See that bit of yellow to the left of the Killdeer? That is a parking space stripe underneath the very sloshy, wet snow. The snow transformed a parking lot into a winter wonderland that I just happened to find this Killdeer in.<\/p>\n

\"KilldeerKilldeer in a snowstorm walking over a parking lot stripe \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 800, +2.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Where ever I go, I look for birds. From marshes and forests, deserts and grassy plains, to waste management facilities and urban parking lots. I don’t need a perfect setting, weather, or even great light to take visually appealing and compelling photos of birds. Quite simply, I keep an eye out for my feathered friends then do my best to work with what I have.<\/p>\n

This morning, on day three of this snowstorm, I can see that I will have to scrape snow off of my Jeep but the driveway, sidewalk, and roads look clear. You can’t see me, but know that because of that… I have a huge smile on my face.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Killdeer photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday morning, after blowing, shoveling, and scraping about nine to ten inches of snow, I went looking for birds and found a Killdeer in a spring snowstorm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":112045,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,267,709,26],"tags":[4144,4142,4828,270,6515,156,10562,13806,13807,5841,275,4046,5112,274,4050,4899,165,953,8018,4236,3996],"class_list":["post-112070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-killdeer","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-charadrius-vociferus","tag-close-up","tag-cloudy","tag-killdeer","tag-killdeers","tag-low-light-2","tag-parking-lot","tag-parking-lot-stripe","tag-parking-space-stripe","tag-plover","tag-plovers","tag-portrait","tag-puddle","tag-shorebirds-2","tag-snow","tag-snowstorm","tag-spring","tag-standing","tag-urban","tag-walking","tag-water"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/killdeer-adult-april-snowstorm-mia-mcpherson-7067.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-t9A","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":117589,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/10\/29\/fall-killdeer-at-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":112070,"position":0},"title":"Fall Killdeer at Bear River MBR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 29, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Since moving to Utah, I have seen and photographed Killdeer in every month of the year. It was no surprise that I found several at Bear River MBR last Monday.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Killdeer walking in shallow water at Bear River MBR, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/killdeer-flats-marsh-mia-mcpherson-5519.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/killdeer-flats-marsh-mia-mcpherson-5519.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/killdeer-flats-marsh-mia-mcpherson-5519.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/killdeer-flats-marsh-mia-mcpherson-5519.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61959,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/12\/09\/killdeer-coping-with-a-snow-storm\/","url_meta":{"origin":112070,"position":1},"title":"Killdeer Coping With A Snow Storm","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 9, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Birds that we might think are too delicate to survive the freezing temps, howling winds and driving snow can and do surprise us with their strength and tenacity.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Killdeer in a snow storm, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-snow-storm-mia-mpcherson-8337.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-snow-storm-mia-mpcherson-8337.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-snow-storm-mia-mpcherson-8337.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-snow-storm-mia-mpcherson-8337.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":126676,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/03\/30\/cedar-waxwing-in-a-spring-snowstorm\/","url_meta":{"origin":112070,"position":2},"title":"Cedar Waxwing In A Spring Snowstorm","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 30, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, I am sharing two Cedar Waxwing photos that I took last April during a spring snowstorm. I found this waxwing in a tree next to the Jordan River Trail.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cedar Waxwing on a snowy spring morning, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwing-high-key-spring-snowstorm-mia-mcpherson-7048.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwing-high-key-spring-snowstorm-mia-mcpherson-7048.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwing-high-key-spring-snowstorm-mia-mcpherson-7048.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwing-high-key-spring-snowstorm-mia-mcpherson-7048.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":124694,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/03\/19\/close-up-killdeer-in-soft-morning-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":112070,"position":3},"title":"Close Up Killdeer In Soft Morning Light","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The first bird I photographed yesterday morning at Bear River MBR was this Killdeer in soft morning light. Truthfully, I am glad my first bird was a Killdeer.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Killdeer in soft morning light, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-adult-early-morning-light-mia-mcpherson-0647.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-adult-early-morning-light-mia-mcpherson-0647.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-adult-early-morning-light-mia-mcpherson-0647.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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