black-necked stilt

So delicate looking, but so well adapted.

Our stilts typically arrive in early March to the wetlands, when the waters are more shallow, so they can breed and build their low ground-based nests on the mudflats. This was the first one I've spotted at the local wetlands this year.

An elegant long-legged parent walking along the shore with her two chicks in tow. Stilt chicks are among the cutest you'll see - like little painted cottonballs with legs.

Undercarriage down, cleared for landing!

Even the Black-necked Stilts were laughing at the Grackles. No wonder that Grackle was scowling ;). Also - no wonder both birds are "mexicanus", and no wonder I'd seen both in California before. Texas and California were both part of Mexico until the mid-19th century.

Spring migration season makes for some great birding in South Florida. I spotted this Black-Necked Stilt in the canal along the highway.

black-necked stilt on the flats.

A nice mix: Willet, Marbled godwit, Black-necked stilt ... sharing the shallows peacefully.

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus subsp. mexicanus) Hazel Bazemore Park, Calallen, Nueces County, Texas, USA. Gulf Prairies and Marshes Vegetational Zone. Situated in the Nueces-Rio Grande Coastal Basin at ca. 4 m (13 ft) elevation. Margin of small depressional pond among Saltgrass...

Himantopus melanurus Black-necked Stilt - sometimes split as White-backed Stilt

This photo was taken at a pond on the north end of Big Talbot Island State Park, known locally as "Spoonbill Pond". There were at least 20 of these birds wading the pond, most, like the one shown, were juveniles or in transition.

A pair of Black-Necked Stilts at Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, Florida.

This is the same stilt I posted a while back, but a different pose and a different spot.

Not a drop of wind, and my kind of day.

and as we glided further past, we got a Black-necked Stilt in the frame. That could be why the pilot had cut the motor. We saw Ibis more than once, but I think this was our only Stilt.

Taken at Eagle Lakes Park, Naples, Florida.

This was taken at Eagle Lakes Park, Naples, Florida. A reclaimed water impoundment.

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus subsp. mexicanus) Sexes similar. This one escorted me out of its territory. I feel sure it had young. Photographed in Galveston Island State Park, northeast of Jamaica Beach, Galveston County, Texas, USA. Barrier Island, coastal prairie at ca. 3 m (10.7...

Logged on from Buenos Aires. 3 birding days starting tomorrow, then conference, then home again back-tracking a bit via San Francisco. Here come 3 more shots from Las Gallinas. I'll make another stop there on my way home and hopefully see something new, or at least have the time and patience to...

Taken along the Marsh Trail in the 10,000 Island National Wildlife Refuge south of Naples, Florida.

I did'nt see this stilt in January or February, but it showed up in Naples and south of Naples in late March.