MUD! I was covered in wet, sloppy mud after photographing Black-winged Stilts foraging on tidal flats. It made me think of the car salesman who spoke with derision about my preference for easy-clean seats. Of course fabric upholstery can be cleaned but it’s great to jump in my vehicle when I’m filthy and know that it won’t take any effort to clean the seat at the end of the day.
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Canon 5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/800, f/6.3, ISO 100, focal length 400mm
Black-winged Stilts are so dainty, so ballet-like. I always enjoy watching them and it seems fitting that they can delicately walk through mud without getting dirty. These stilts are waders that measure about 37cm and feed on insects, crustaceans and molluscs. Their colouring is striking with red irises and legs, crisp white fronts and collars, the black at the back of the neck, black wings and long, straight, black bills.
Black-winged Stilt
Canon 5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 200, focal length 400mm
Black-winged Stilts move rapidly across the mudflats when foraging until something catches their eye, when they stop and stare intently. I wasn’t aware of any bugs or critters amongst the mud. And look how clean this bird is! Apart from a tiny speck of mud at the end of its bill it is immaculate.
Black-winged Stilt
Canon 5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 200, focal length 400mm
When this stilt spotted food, or a twitch or bubble from beneath the mud that suggested food, it thrust its bill into the mud. The food in its bill, in the image above, appears to be an aquatic mollusc.
Black-winged Stilt
Canon 5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 200, focal length 400mm
If I’d been squatting on firmer ground I may have captured a sequence of this stilt as it flew low over the mudflats. Well, actually I did get a sequence of shots but the flight was brief and every time I twisted to follow the bird I slipped in the mud and didn’t quite nail the focus.
Part of bird photography is visualising the image you are after. I have a head full of images I’m looking forward to getting and many of them are based on near misses. After photographing this bird I’m imagining all kinds of beautiful stilt shots in early morning light.
Happy birding, Kim
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[…] I shared photographs of a Pied Stilt a few years ago when they were called Black-winged Stilts (they have also been known as White-headed Stilt). There are some beaut shots here: Lirralirra – Black-winged Stilt […]
Hi Kim
The first picture is wonderful !
…thanks for your sharing !!!! I love it !
bye
Thank you Nath, I’m glad you like the picture 🙂
Hi Kim, You have done well to get these close shots of the Black-winged Stilt; they can be a bit nervous and flighty. You must have your ‘leopard crawl’ down pat! It’s my favourite technique for waders as well. Interesting shot where the bird has found a small mollusc – it always amazes me how birds find enough food to eat.
Thanks Rick, wouldn’t it be good if there was some kind of biodegradable, spray on wet suit that we could wear at times like this. It is amazing that they can find enough to eat, I didn’t see anything living in the mud.
I am asking you foe permission to use some of your photos in my watercolour paintings. I am a botanical artist and sometimes add a bird to my paintings if appropriate.
MARY Harper
Hi Mary, it’s lovely to think of lirralirra images being used in your botanical paintings, thank you for asking. I have a couple of questions to ask you, please contact me via the email address on the contact page.
Adorable bird and lovely photos! Our Black necked Stilt is similar, just has black on its head. Awesome shots..Have a happy weekend!
It’s great when you tell me about similar birds on your side of the planet, off I go to do more googling. Have a great week!
lovely shots, they do look odd don’t they. We have a heap of stilt around here and the same sloppy grounds to troop through to photograph them
The funniest shots could be either of us after taking stilt shots 🙂
Hi Kim,
Beautiful photos, such a dainty bird.
Carole.
Thank you Carole, they are amazingly dainty, I really like stilts.
It really is most unfair of the Black-winged Stilt to stay so pristine. Mud loves me, and I am pretty certain I would have measured my full length in it.
Stunning series – and I love the dangling legs in that last shot.
It sounds like we’d have been a muddy pair if we’d met out there EC!