Black-bellied Plover (winter colors)

[jorj7]

Here's a few shots of the Black-bellied Plover taken at the Albany Mudflats with the
20D, 500 f4.5L and 1.4x tc.

1 Searching for food
http://birds.jorj7.com/071117-mudflats/1117-154407-02.jpg

2 Reflection
http://birds.jorj7.com/071117-mudflats/1117-155038-01.jpg

3 Bathing
http://birds.jorj7.com/071117-mudflats/1117-155110-03.jpg

4 Hanging on the shore
http://birds.jorj7.com/071117-mudflats/1117-154612-01.jpg

5 Territorial dispute
http://birds.jorj7.com/071117-mudflats/1117-154620-02.jpg

6 continued
http://birds.jorj7.com/071117-mudflats/1117-154705-02.jpg

7 In front of a sleeping Godwit
http://birds.jorj7.com/071117-mudflats/1117-154814-01.jpg

8 Swarm of Western Sandpipers passing by
http://birds.jorj7.com/071117-mudflats/1117-162156-01.jpg

[canonloader]

Nice little story George. The last shot looks like more than all the birds I have ever shot. :)

I've searched for a 500 f4.5L on occasion and they seem to be real scarce. I bet the owners don't want to give them up. :)

[JimLittle]

Wonderful shots---nice and sharp---hope things get better quickly for those shorebirds!

[ajosteve]

Another nice series, really cute bird...and that last one is so full of birds it's amazing that they can even fly without colliding...steve

[Booswalia]

Nice series of shots. All very sharp and nicely composed.

[EdV]

Nice series, George. I really am partial to shorebirds. I got a nice Black-bellied Plover in winter plumage series a couple of weeks back. I had an opportunity for this plover in breeding plumage out in Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing, CA but alas they didn't turn out.

[LindaB]

An excellent set of shots. #3 is fabulous

Linda

[Sindri Skulason]

Excellent series. Love the reflection in two and three, :-)

[jorj7]

Thanks Mitch, Jim, Steve, Shirley, Ed, Linda, and Sindri. I was able to get
close enough to these guys to get some good shots.

Mitch, The 500 f4.5L is a very good lens, very sharp, while being lighter and almost as
fast as the 500 f4L IS. If I could afford a 500 LIS, I'd probably do it, but the 4.5L is a excellent
substitute.

Steve, I'm use to seeing lots of shorebirds around here, but there seems to be more
then usual out there now. Maybe the oil spill drove the birds to some of the more
protected areas of the Bay.

[Neilyb]

Love the flock shot!!

[dancad]

I like the candid feel to shot number 5. The flock is rather impressive too.

[downywp]

Excellent work with these little beauties, the 2nd and 3rd are my favourites! The very last shot of the flock is way cool! :)