I had it all planned out – bring a towel, bring rain pants (to deal with stinging weeds – can’t walk thru them in shorts), and bring my flash (it was cloudy this morning and the sun was not going to be behind me). It all almost worked out perfectly…
I get there, sweet, there they are – Killdeer (plover), Lesser Yellowlegs (sandpiper), and some other little jobs (Sanderlings?–post edit: Semipalmated Sandpipers–). I sat down on a log for a minute or two so they get used to me. Then I planned my attack – how close do I dare try to get? I pick a point, put my flash on the camera, crouch down, and go a few feet. Okay, knowing I better get lower and move slower, it’s time to get muddy. So, I drop to my knees, and with my camera in one hand, I crawl closer, using my free hand to keep from falling over by sticking my fist in the mud (which would sink in nearly all the way).
Okay, close enough, time to lay down on my stomach. I throw a small towel in the mud a couple feet in front of me to make sure my camera doesn’t make contact with the mud. I get into sniper formation.
As usual, in about five minutes, they move even closer to me as they continue feasting on little worms (I had a pic of one with a worm but it was blurry). The Killdeer seem to be the most curious, but I really need to practice my sniper skills and try to get even closer…next time.
Oh, maybe next time I will also remember to actually turn the flash on, DOH! (fill-flash would of helped bring out some colors better) …
