{"id":67712,"date":"2020-03-30T06:49:30","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T12:49:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=67712"},"modified":"2025-05-24T16:24:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-24T21:24:06","slug":"adult-killdeer-portrait-plus-a-view-of-bear-river-mbr-in-march","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/03\/30\/adult-killdeer-portrait-plus-a-view-of-bear-river-mbr-in-march\/","title":{"rendered":"Adult Killdeer Portrait Plus A View Of Bear River MBR In March"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PortraitPortrait of an adult Killdeer \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span><\/a> and arrived at the exit off of I-15 just as the sun came up over the Wasatch Mountains in the east.<\/p>\n

The sky was clear except for a smattering of clouds over the mountains and I had grand views in all directions.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

I heard the calls of Long-billed Curlews, Sandhill Cranes, Savannah Sparrows and Marsh Wrens before I even got to the auto tour route.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The birds that I photographed the most that lovely March morning were Killdeer, they seemed to show up practically everywhere I looked.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"MarshMarsh at Bear River MBR on a sunny March morning plus three midges \u2013 Nikon D810, f11, 1\/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 18mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Stay safe.<\/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":"

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":146872,"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_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[124,27,1148,267,26],"tags":[4004,4144,4142,4101,4122,270,6515,4094,610,540,4069,4046,4528,4092,274,4018,165,30,9452,3996],"class_list":["post-67712","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-close-up","tag-clouds","tag-flying","tag-killdeer","tag-killdeers","tag-marsh","tag-marshes","tag-midges","tag-mountains","tag-portrait","tag-promontory-mountains","tag-refuge","tag-shorebirds-2","tag-sky","tag-spring","tag-utah-2","tag-viral-pandemic","tag-water"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t