When we went to Victor Bay this evening I grabbed the camera, thinking I’d take a quick trip out to where the Baird’s Sandpipers were yesterday and quickly locate their nest, grab a couple of shots and leave them in peace. But they weren’t near the same area. It didn’t take too long to find the pair, or a general location where their agitation was at its peak.
I quickly backed off a ways and let them calm down, but I watched the wrong bird, and when I found the other it had settled down on something.
I was pretty certain of the spot it had settled, but even when I stood right over the spot, it took me awhile to realize I was looking at this…
(A note on the photos: Lately I’ve noticed a distinct blue cast to the photos, especially in shadow. I played around with the camera tonight and found that somehow the white balance got set to “Tungsten Bulb”. The last two pictures have had the colour balance played around with to get them to look more natural, only moderately successfully. The picture of the chick especially doesn’t do justice to its colouration. Oh and as soon as I snapped a couple of pictures of the chick I hightailed it out of there and left them all alone.)
Comments
9 responses
Sweet! What good camo.
Fabulous shots. The one of the chick is terrific. You know I am beside myself with envy of your birds. I have never see a Baird’s much less its chick. I am enjoying your birding vicariously. Keep snapping and posting.
Wow… I think that is about the most amazing camoflage I’ve ever seen – even in a photo it looks more like a mossy rock than a bird!
Gosh that baby is sweet. I noticed the blue tinge and figured it was an artistic choice you were making. 🙂
Hi Karen, it is fine camo. It looks even more cryptic in person and when they are on gravel they are impossible to see.
Bevson, Baird’s Sandpipers nest pretty exclusively in the higher arctic regions (mostly N. America but there are populations in Russia and Groenland) So it would be unlikely you’d see a chick unless you were up here.
Jennith, it is pretty amazing isn’t it?
Yeah that’s what it was Liza Lee, and artistic choice. Its my hmm blue period.
The chick evoked an “Awww…” from my fiancee (and me too!).
what stunning bird photos you’ve shared in this and the previous few posts. Wonderful.
Patrick, it was one of those “Awww” moments in real life also.
Why thank you Juliet.
That is an AMAZING photo of the chick. (I love the rest of your bird photos, too). I need to get out on the tundra more …