Killdeer

Killdeer while commonly found on lawns, golf courses, and pasture fields also spend time along the water's edge.  One morning a few days ago I was fortunate to be able to maneuver the boat close to a family group of killdeer taking an early morning bath. 

A dispute erupted among the birds as can be seen here with one bird chasing another through the shallow water.

Turning the tables the chased bird suddenly stopped and displayed an aggressive posture.

And maintained the aggressive stance as the pursuing bird circled seeming to look for a weakness in its defence. 

In a few moments the dispute was quickly forgotten as the flock went back to running about the mud flats in search of food leaving me with a few memorable images from a beautiful morning on the water.

Wildlife at the Water's Edge

 While spending a few hours on the water Tuesday I was treated to an encounter with an immature bald eagle.  I first noticed it as it flew at tree top height along the shoreline.  Apparently sighting a fish it dove into the water and reemerged with empty talons.  I wasn't able to get to the camera in time to capture the dive but was able to capture it here as it prepares to land on a stump.

As I approached slowly with the boat the eagle soon took off flying along the shoreline as it gained altitude.  Later in the day the sound of a loud splash drew my attention to the other side of the lake just in time to see the eagle rise into the air.  The distance was to great to determine if it's dive had been successful.

The muddy shoreline is a favored place for the numerous killdeer to feed.  These birds, while being somewhat wary, will allow a fairly close boat approach if it is done slowly. 

The lake is currently drawn down a considerable amount to facilitate dam repairs.  The lush grasses covering much of the former lake bed do not go unnoticed by the deer.  This doe & fawn, after grazing the young grass, stepped into the lake to quench their thirst and cool off during the midday heat.

Edge, that place where one habitat type meets another, is always a good place to find wildlife.  Edge can consist of the transition between grassland and brush, cropland and woodland, etc.  The water's edge is as good as any and sometimes better than most so whenever you are near the water's edge keep a good lookout for wildlife; your efforts will not go unrewarded.

On the Water

So many of my outdoor adventures involve the water; waterfowl photography in the wetlands, waterfowl photography at a lake, or an outing combining photography with fishing.  Here my "ride" sits ready; fishing rods in their holders and the 60D with the 100-400mm nestled on top of the camera bag where it can be picked up quite handily.

Tools of the panfish trade, an ultralight spinning rig, marker buoys, marabou jig, and a pack of Berkley Crappie Nibbles.

A nice Bluegill comes to the boat after falling for the nibble tipped jig.

And the Canon photo gear comes into play when a Killdeer is spotted feeding along the muddy shoreline. 

Combining wildlife photography and fishing has been a win win combination allowing me to practice two of my favorite activities simultaneously. 

The Killdeer

The striking markings of the Killdeer allow it to virtually disappear anywhere there is contrasting light and shadow.

I encountered this bird while checking on our cattle last evening. These little speedsters are spending much of their time around the spring seeps in the cow pastures where earthworms are easily found at this time of year.

Killdeer: Our most common Plover

Named for its call, the Killdeer is commonly seen in meadows, pastures, and golf courses over most of North America. This Killdeer was unconcerned about my presence while hunting worms in the soggy pasture.

Killdeer have drawn my attention from an early age. I well remember being enthralled with them from an early age. As a boy, I enjoyed watching them run about the pastures, always able to maintain a healthy distance between themselves and an inquisitive little boy.

When viewed up close their brilliant markings are striking but at a little distance those same sharply contrasting colors serve as excellent camouflage