Inquisitive Semipalmated Plover on the north beach – Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light
While rifling through my archives I came across some of my Semipalmated Plover images that I took on the north beach at Fort De Soto County Park in 2008.
I miss Fort De Soto’s beaches, the sea breeze, the sugar sand, the tang of salt in the clear air, the sunrises and sunsets, and most of all the birds that I found there. I also miss walking along at my own pace, stopping exactly when and where I wanted, and staying as long in one spot as my heart desired. Photographing birds in the beach next to the Gulf of Mexico is very different from the way I photograph birds in Utah.
During their breeding season I didn’t see Semipalmated Plovers at the north beach but when they showed back up after they were through with their breeding season I was always delighted to have them in my viewfinder. These small plovers foraged in the wrack lines, at the shoreline of the Gulf, and at the edges of the tidal lagoons of the park.
Semipalmated Plover walking next to a lagoon at low tide – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light
I adored observing and photographing these small plovers whenever I had them in view whether they were resting, foraging, preening, running along the water’s edge, or taking flight over the Gulf during the the end of summer through early spring before they migrated to their breeding grounds. I miss seeing them and would love to have Semipalmated Plovers in my viewfinder again.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Semipalmated Plover photos plus facts and information about this species.
Same here since leaving the NE south shore!
I can well understand why you miss them.