outdoor photography

Killdeer Photographers sometimes shy away from photos like this.  I call them field guide shots.  The bird is doing nothing, just standing in full profile, but you can see everything about the bird that helps you identify it.  As photographers, we often want action shots, interesting poses, or at least something that makes the photo stand out from the million other Killdeer photos that have been taken.  I sympathize with these desires, but I also like having at least one good field guide photo per species.  This one was taken a little over a week ago at Central Winds Park.  There's nothing to make this photo stand out, but I still just like it.

Killdeer I didn't have any time for birding this morning, but I did get the opportunity to walk around my office parking lot a little before driving home this afternoon.  I had heard a Pileated Woodpecker from my office window, so I went out to find it--it's the first I've seen from my office parking lot.  But as I was walking by the lake, I noticed a Killdeer was out with two little chicks.  I immediately lost interest in the woodpecker and decided to focus on the Killdeer chicks.  I was able to go down to lake level without alarming them, and I spent a few minutes photographing them before getting in my car.  I hope to see them again in better light, but a few of my photos are worth sharing.  Killdeer  Proud Killdeer Parent Killdeer