Last week, in the Kamas Valley in Summit County, Utah I was pleased to take Killdeer photos in a wet meadow with pink clovers and piles of cow manure. April Olson and I were headed to the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway and we meandered through the Kamas Valley on our way there.
Killdeer and clover in the Kamas Valley – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1250, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
There were at least seven Killdeer in this area, although we did find more farther up the road. While I was surprised to find a Least Sandpiper in this mountain valley, I wasn’t really surprised at all to find the Killdeer there. I’ve seen this plover species at these elevations before.
The wet, grassy meadows of this ranchland probably provide these shorebirds with plenty of food.
I enjoyed seeing all of the pink clover in my killdeer images. The Killdeer in this photo was the closest to my Jeep which we were using as a mobile blind.
Kamas Valley Killdeer and manure – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1250, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
There were also Killdeer standing near or on the piles of cow manure that the cattle had left all over the grassy field. Even the Least Sandpiper stood on top of a pile of poop briefly.
It was fun to share photographing these Killdeer with April in the mountain valley. From where we were parked to photograph these plovers I could see a flock of Sandhill Cranes ahead so we didn’t stay long with the Killdeer. I wanted and needed to get a Sandhill Crane fix since I had missed out on seeing them earlier in the spring.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Killdeer photos plus facts and information about this species.
I love the orange halo in the Killdeer’s eye…and you captured it perfectly. The sharpness of the image is also incredible. Thanks Mia.
Beautiful.
These turned out lovely.