Black-necked Stilt Stretching and Preening

The Black-necked Stilt is an elegant study in contrasts with its white breast and shiny black wings accentuated by extremely long, bright red legs.  They’re often found feeding near American Avocets and I’ve routinely been able to get preening and stretching images of avocets but the stilts have been less cooperative with me.  Typically they’ll actively feed when I’m near but they always seem to fly off to do their self-maintenance.

 

 1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

However, this bird apparently decided that flying off was too much effort and it unexpectedly began a series of stretches.

 

 

 1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

I was able to photograph a variety of interesting poses but by this time the sun was relatively high and so some of the best shots are missing light in the eye.   Stilts often pull their leg up over the wing when scratching the head.

 

 

 1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

 Because these birds are usually wading in water when I’m photographing them the extreme length of their legs is not always evident but catch one in a pose like this and it becomes quite apparent.

 

 

 1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

 I like the water splash and pose in this shot.

 

 

1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

 Here the stilt has finished stretching for the moment and is contemplating its next move…

 

 

 1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

 which turned out to be preening the underside of the wing.

 

 

1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 400, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

Then it turned and walked a little closer to the background vegetation and stretched the same leg as before.

The setting in these images might be a little busy for the tastes of some but I liked the poses and reflections.

Ron