Bathing Willet Adult

Several weeks ago I found this adult Willet near the shore of a lake in Beaverhead County in sw Montana.  Most of the shorebirds in this remote area of the state aren’t used to people so they’re difficult to approach but this single adult (and a couple of juveniles – likely the offspring of this bird) were very cooperative – which makes me speculate that this adult had migrated from an area where it had become accustomed to humans.   1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 400, 500 f/4  It spent quite a while feeding on aquatic insects and crustaceans.      1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 400, 500 f/4  There was a variable breeze blowing and in many of these shots and I liked the effect it had on the water surface.      1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 400, 500 f/4  Then the Willet began to bathe…      1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 400, 500 f/4  and occasionally would even give me direct eye contact.      1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 400, 500 f/4 As it completed its bath it did a few wing flaps to get rid of some of the water.    1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 400, 500 f/4 And then a vigorous shake to help dry and rearrange the feathers.      1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 400, 500 f/4  Then of course there was the post-bath preening.      1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 400, 500 f/4 And finally a nice wing stretch to complete the bathing ritual.  The wing movement scared up some flying insects from the foreground vegetation. Willets appear to be pretty much “plain brown birds” until they…

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