Usually when birders think of shorebird habitat they think of open mudflats with very little
vegetation. One of the big exceptions to this rule are killdeer. These plovers are often found in yards, parks, golf courses and dirt roads. That was why I was surprised to find some killdeer breeding at the
Maplewood Nature Center.
Warm and dry weather had turned the typically shallow lake into a series of mud flats and shallow pools. I spotted three young ones but it was hard to tell for sure if that was all of them because they spent most of their time hiding in the
vegetation. At first I was not sure which type of plover that they were, since the young only have a single strip just like other plovers like the
semipalmated or Wilson's plover, then I heard the "killdeer" call of the adult and I knew exactly which plover that I was photographing.
Usually when birders think of shorebird habitat they think of open mudflats with very little vegetation. One of the big exceptions to this rule are killdeer. These plovers are often found in yards, parks, golf courses and dirt roads. That was why I was surprised to find some killdeer breeding at the Maplewood Nature Center.
Warm and dry weather had turned the typically shallow lake into a series of mud flats and shallow pools. I spotted three young ones but it was hard to tell for sure if that was all of them because they spent most of their time hiding in the vegetation. At first I was not sure which type of plover that they were, since the young only have a single strip just like other plovers like the semipalmated or Wilson's plover, then I heard the "killdeer" call of the adult and I knew exactly which plover that I was photographing.
Oh, so sweet! I love it whrn the killdeer are nesting locally! I've seen them in the grassy aresa in the middle of the city, too!
ReplyDeleteI had the rare opportunity to photograph a mother and two babies alongside a gravel road once. They are SO cute, and I found the babies difficult to photograph, especially on the gravel, because they blended in so much.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!
Great photos. I have seen killdeers on golf courses and open parks. Interesting change of habitat.
ReplyDeleteHow cute!! those tenuous legs!
ReplyDeleteLove that Fall reflection in the shot below as well!!
What great shots, I love the compostion of the first one. The last one shows just how cute it is!
ReplyDeleteExcellent photos! Those little guys are soo cute!
ReplyDeleteGreats pics! I don't know if I would have been able to find them in the vegatation.
ReplyDeleteSuper pics.
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious plover the juvenile killdeer is!! Looks like you could just pet those downy feathers in the second photo.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with us, made me smile.
Kay, Alberta
Oh, he is a cutie and I've not seen him before. What great coloring and detail.
ReplyDeleteSixty years ago all our country roads were either dirt or gravel and along the edges in the gravel would be the killdeer nests. Made from the stones, the nest was always hard to see and the mother bird would run off with a broken wing appearance trying to lure us to follow them. I have not seen a baby killdeer since those days. It was nice to see these chicks.
ReplyDeleteMy first time to hear this name and see creatures like this. its cute.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sheaky.com/2010/10/camera-critters-our-visitor.html
Wow - what gorgeous shots of the fuzzy little creature.
ReplyDelete