{"id":124694,"date":"2024-03-19T04:25:32","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T10:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=124694"},"modified":"2025-05-08T04:12:42","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T09:12:42","slug":"close-up-killdeer-in-soft-morning-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/03\/19\/close-up-killdeer-in-soft-morning-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Close Up Killdeer In Soft Morning Light"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first bird I photographed yesterday morning at Bear River MBR<\/span><\/a> was this Killdeer in soft morning light. Truthfully, I am glad my first bird was a Killdeer.<\/p>\n

\"KilldeerKilldeer in soft morning light \u2013 Nikon D500, f11, 1\/250, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Killdeer and I go back a long way. I was a curious little girl when I saw my first broken wing display by this species at the edge of a parking lot. The alarm call of the adult caught my attention first; then, I saw the bird.<\/p>\n

I remember being fascinated and also thinking that the Killdeer might need help. That was probably the first time I ever felt the rescue instinct. The gorgeous shorebird obviously didn’t need my help, and my mother told me about the broken wing display and what it meant. Mom knew a lot about birds and nature.<\/p>\n

Seeing this Killdeer yesterday made me think of that bird from a long time ago, my mom, and how I learned to love birds and nature at a very early age. It is really no wonder at all that I chose to do what I do now. It also isn’t a wonder at all that I have spent my entire life learning about wildlife, plants, birds, and everything else that I find in nature.<\/p>\n

I’ve always had an insatiable curiosity, and for the most part, that has served me well.<\/p>\n

This Killdeer was very cooperative, and I took quite a few photos of it as it stood on the gravel with spring plants starting to poke above ground. At that point, I could see a car moving towards me, so I thanked the Killdeer and headed west on the auto tour loop.<\/p>\n

By the way, on my way home while driving south on I-15, I saw my first of year Osprey! How wonderful was that after my post about Ospreys on the 15th<\/span><\/a>?<\/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":"

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":143322,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_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":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[124,27,1148,267,26],"tags":[4004,4144,6790,270,4094,4099,5841,275,274,1376,4095,373],"class_list":["post-124694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-killdeer","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-charadrius-vociferus","tag-gravel","tag-killdeer","tag-marsh","tag-morning-light","tag-plover","tag-plovers","tag-shorebirds-2","tag-side-light","tag-wetlands","tag-winter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-adult-early-morning-light-mia-mcpherson-0647.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-wrc","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":105042,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/08\/16\/young-killdeer-at-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":124694,"position":0},"title":"Young Killdeer At Bear River MBR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 16, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning I drove up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge where the second bird that I photographed was a young Killdeer in the early light of dawn.","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":"Young Killdeer just after dawn, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/killdeer-young-refuge-mia-mcpherson-3508.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/killdeer-young-refuge-mia-mcpherson-3508.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/killdeer-young-refuge-mia-mcpherson-3508.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/killdeer-young-refuge-mia-mcpherson-3508.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":101068,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/03\/27\/killdeer-in-spring-at-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":124694,"position":1},"title":"Killdeer In Spring At Bear River MBR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"While I was at Bear River MBR two days ago I stopped and took a long series of photos of three Killdeer near the entrance to the auto loop.","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":"Preening adult Killdeer, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/killdeer-spring-refuge-mia-mcpherson-5378.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/killdeer-spring-refuge-mia-mcpherson-5378.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/killdeer-spring-refuge-mia-mcpherson-5378.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/killdeer-spring-refuge-mia-mcpherson-5378.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":117589,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/10\/29\/fall-killdeer-at-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":124694,"position":2},"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":67712,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/03\/30\/adult-killdeer-portrait-plus-a-view-of-bear-river-mbr-in-march\/","url_meta":{"origin":124694,"position":3},"title":"Adult Killdeer Portrait Plus A View Of Bear River MBR In March","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 30, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"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.","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":"Portrait of an adult Killdeer, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-portrait-mia-mcpherson-4284.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-portrait-mia-mcpherson-4284.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-portrait-mia-mcpherson-4284.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-portrait-mia-mcpherson-4284.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38734,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/04\/24\/breeding-season-for-killdeer-at-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":124694,"position":4},"title":"Breeding Season for Killdeer at Bear River MBR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 24, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"It is breeding season for Killdeer at Bear River MBR and for all of Utah.","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":"Adult Killdeer in breeding season, Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-adult-mia-mcpherson-2203.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-mia-mcpherson-2203.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-adult-mia-mcpherson-2203.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-adult-mia-mcpherson-2203.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56963,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/03\/31\/spring-killdeer-at-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":124694,"position":5},"title":"Spring Killdeer At Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 31, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I spent my morning yesterday driving on the very muddy auto tour route at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and the birds that I photographed the most were Killdeer, it seemed like I saw them everywhere.","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":"Spring Killdeer on a log, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-bear-river-mbr-log-mia-mcpherson-4570.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-bear-river-mbr-log-mia-mcpherson-4570.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-bear-river-mbr-log-mia-mcpherson-4570.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/killdeer-bear-river-mbr-log-mia-mcpherson-4570.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124694"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124694\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}