It about a month since I’ve been out the Merced NWR. I normally stay until sunset, but since the time change and because the kids are done before sunset, I only stayed for a short time. One of the pools are now dry, the Geese are gone too. I found several Killdeer to be cooperative, but still had to shoot this from the window.
Killdeer
Saw a Great Blue Heron fishing in on of the ponds. Tried to get a better background but he started moving behind the reeds.
Great Blue Heron
Saw a rare “Giraffa mylarii” too!
Mike Matenkosky is a Central Valley California landscape and nature photographer whose favorite locations include the Merced National Wildlife Refuge, Yosemite and the eastern Sierra. He is currently living in Atwater, CA.
The text and photographs are © Copyright Mike Matenkosky (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from Mike Matenkosky.
*LOL* What a handsome lad, he is.
Have you ever spent much time watching those killdeer in action? We have those quite abundantly around here and they’re amazing. I had a nest with four eggs in my yard a few summers ago. We were very careful when mowing, walking around, etc. All of a sudden, one day, the eggs were gone. No sign of shells or anything. The lady at the Tulsa Zoo aviary said it was probably a snake that got them.
Oh, by lad, I meant the “Giraffa mylarii”.
A little bit. I like seeing their head bobbing, but I can’t say that I’ve seen the broken wing trick yet.
I had to take a picture of that Mylar Giraffe!
Hey Mike nice Killdeer images and we have seen the broken wing trick when you get too close to the nest or the young ones. The mother will actually lead you away from her eggs or young and then return when you are a safe distance. Think I will add your blog to my RSS feed so I can keep up with your updates. See you on Out Door Eyes.
Mike