Heading down to the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning my first stop was Lakeshore State Park. A Black-bellied Plover, juvenile was present at the beach area. The Black-bellied Plover fed back and forth on the beach. Also present was the first Northern Shoveler for the fall at the park. It was a female generally hanging out with some Mallards. McKinley Beach had one lone Killdeer. I decided it was time to make a check at the “Magic Hedge”, about 15 Palm Warblers were present feeding along the fence to the north. A nice morning to be out with light overcast skies, light breeze and warm temps doing a little birding. Images were taken on Septemeber 15, 2017.
Coming in for a landing at the beach area
Black-bellied Plover
Binomial name: Pluvialis squatarola
Category: Lapwings and Plovers
Size: 11.5” long, 29” wing span
Weight: 8 Oz.
Habitat: Breeding habitat is lowlands on dry Arctic tundra. They spend their winters on beaches and estuarine mudflats. They sometimes are found in flooded fields, agricultural lands, meadows near coasts or inland waters.
Diet: On their breeding grounds, main food source is insects. Their wintering habitat provides worms, bivalves and crustaceans.
Nesting: They prefer a raised area for nesting for good visibility. Nest is a shallow depression made by the male and finished by the female as her job is lining it with pebbles, grass, twigs, lichens and moss. 3-4 eggs are usually laid, one brood per season, both parents incubate them. Within 12 hours, the chicks are usually able to forage and both parents care for them.
Walking the beach and feeding along the way…
Getting a drink…
Feeding…
With all the gnats…and a feather along side…
Something to eat in the bill
Something to eat…
Something to eat…
A little stretch here…
With something to eat here…
Coming at me…
The profile
The catch…
The looking back shot…
Constantly moving and feeding along the beach…
Incoming..
