Killdeer

The Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus, is quite a character. Although a shorebird, you're liable to find one out on a gravel lot, darting around rapidly, a few feet at a time. With its bright white chest, double-banded neck, and red eye, it's fairly easy to identify this member of the Plover family.

I first met this species many years ago when I found a nest on a gravelly piece to the side of a baseball field. When I got too close, I got the broken wing act. I mean, it gives a really good imitation of being injured--anything to take the heat off its clutch of eggs.

I've been hunting this little one for weeks, first spying it on a beach area where I take most group shots of Canada Geese. There I couldn't get close, but in one of my favorite spots, it was quite accomodating so I kept shooting and getting closer until it finally blew me off.