Here is my late #featheredfriday post, since I did not have the energy to do it yesterday after posting about the climate strike (to be honest, I am really knackered today as well, and will be going to bed early).
The one bird I took a photo of yesterday on the wetlands walk with my local Audubon chapter. Not a great shot, but you can clearly see the leggy black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus):
These guys are really cute with their pink legs and delicate bills. They are often seen around American avocets in our local wetlands. They make their nests on the ground, like many other shorebirds. Their nests are speckled and very well camouflaged - I walked right by a nest with eggs back in May and did not notice it at all until the biologist I was with pointed it out to me!
I am excited for fall migration because we are already starting to see some of our wintering ducks arrive, like the Northern shoveler and pintails. I look forward to going back out to the ponds and sloughs over the next few months to watch as more and more species arrive...especially the buffleheads!