American Golden-Plover - a photo on Flickriver

After a couple of days at a professional conference in town, I skipped the last morning session and went to Antioch Marsh at Hillsdale Lake in Miami County. The parking lot had a handful of cars and the evidence of two early morning fires was chewable in the calm morning air. The smell of wafting smoke was matched to the visual disdain of ash, trash, and rocks from over-privileged public land users decisions.

A bunch of Killdeer and Franklin's Gulls were the first birds I spotted through the scope, but with the sun still not above the horizon and duck hunters present I respected their use of the land and stuck to the trees rather than sneaking around the corner and visible from the shoreline. I am glad I did, as I had a great chat with the Public Lands Manager and hope our paths cross again. His passion for the outdoors and retained knowledge from an ornithology class in college was evident as we chatted and were interrupted by birds calling as they flew over.

A friend joined me and we scoped and took pictures until the sun was easily above the tree line and I couldn't imagine the duck hunters being upset if we walked out to the shoreline. The Franklin's Gulls were easily spooked and you could hear the whoosh of their wings taking flight. Mixed among them were a few Bonaparte's Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls, American Avocets, and ducks outside the hunters range. We scanned the shorebirds a second time and picked out a single Dunlin, a couple of American Golden-Plovers, a late migrating Semipalmated Plover, a few Least Sandpipers, and distant Peeps before a large flock of Swallows descended on the area. I mentioned we should check the Tree Swallows for other species among them, recognizing it seemed the proper thing to do as we were primarily standing and chatting. A flash of white and a few seconds later; VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW!

We both took some time taking photos, this being one from that day. Another friend pulled in when we were in the parking lot, so we walked back to the point with and were buzzed by a Peregrine Falcon. The swallows were completely absent by then already, seemingly around for less than an hour that morning.

ebird.org/checklist/S200347812

Chatting with friends, the public lands manager, and dumb luck of being in the right spot and the right time all while enjoying nature and birds was a great way to spend the day. We also picked up a couple bags of trash, leaving the public land better than the way we found it.

Taken in: United States / Kansas / Richland Township / Antioch (show map)

Taken on: October 26, 2024

Tags:

2024

American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)

Kansas

Miami County

USA « less

Groups appears in: • Kansas • Bird Fanatics! (No Limits) more » • Birds Photos - Check out the new discussions! • Kansas Wildlife • Birds Birds Birds ! (Check out the new discussion) • Birdshare • Birds And Words! Your best BIRD photos with a great story! • Flickr Wildlife « less

Camera: Nikon D3400, f/8.0, 1/2500 sec, 500mm (=750mm), ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D3400
Lens:	200.0-500.0 mm f/5.6
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	1/2500 sec
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm equivalent: 750mm)
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	-8/3 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS4 Windows
Show full info

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