Himantopus mexicanus
This Stilt is wading and hunting in water clear enough you can see his legs and feet - yes the legs are that long.
Why do you think they are called Stilts?
They are found in 5 species from Southern Canada to Southern South America, islands of the Caribbean and Hawaii.
Only Flamingos have longer legs in proportion to their body.
Stilts eat small water creatures and insects in water or on land. They nest on the ground near water.
Where I live in So California is a year round area for them and they move all over to marches streams, lakes and ponds looking for food or good nesting spots. At the park where I took this picture I have seen aprx 100 around the connected ponds at the same time.
Canon 6D, 100-400L mk1 @ 250, 1/250 @ f/8.0, ISO-1000 hand held under Noon light.
Very nice photo, great composition. A "Keeper" !!
Strix.
Great color, composition and detail.
Exactly where was this taken? I too am from So. CA
Thanks.
JeffDavidson wrote:
Great color, composition and detail.
Exactly where was this taken? I too am from So. CA
Thanks.
Thanks very much.
Riverwalk Parkway in Riverside, Pierce St off ramp from the 91 Fwy east bound and go north or Magnolia off ramp if west bound and take Magnolia west to Pierce and go north under the freeway. Sometimes the place is overrun with birds and other times almost deserted. It depends on the time of year, drought conditions and weather/temp. In normal times you often have dodge the wedding groups and others doing outdoor portraits.
It is a man made series of ponds, rapids, check dams and spillways etc aprox 1 mile long with foot paths, bridges etc. built in a flood control channel. Water level is definitely dependent on drought conditions and time of year.
https://www.google.com/search?q=riverwalk+parkway+riverside+ca&oq=river&aqs=chrome.3.0j69i57j69i60j69i59j69i60l2j0.3904j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
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