Marl Bed Flats, 4/16/2014

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Northern Harrier
This morning I got up early and went to Marl Bed Flats, hoping to see some new shorebirds. I had a great time.  I was hoping for a Pectoral Sandpiper, but instead I found my first of the year Solitary Sandpiper.  But my best photos were of a Northern Harrier that flew by pretty close to me and a Lesser Yellowlegs.

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Lesser Yellowlegs
The biggest surprise was finding over 40 Black-necked Stilts, including some that were paired off. I'm very hopeful that some will stick around to breed here.

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Black-necked Stilts
There were also many Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows here, and one Northern Rough-winged Swallow. As I'm sure you know (or can imagine), it's very hard to get nice sharp photos of swallows in flight.  The bottom photo, though, shows the swallow about to capture a bug of some sort. I would have liked to have it a little sharper with a clear view of its eye, and I'd love to have whatever but that is in focus, but I'm still happy with the photo.

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Tree Swallow
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Tree Swallow

Comments

  1. waldläufer FrankApril 17, 2014 at 2:37 PM

    beautiful pictures .. the first one is my favorite. great facial expression and
    Brilliant field ... super

    regards Frank

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