Tag Archives: Willet

Willet and His Shadow

September 12, 2019 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Willets are shore birds that tend to mind their own business and with their sand coloring it is easy to miss them. As the sun was coming up this one decided to take a stroll away from the water and there was a bit of contrast between him and the hard packed sand. The line shadows behind him were created by a dead tree standing in the ocean surf.

Then he took off, first showing me his patterned underwings…

…then revealing a nice view of his the upper side of his wing, and a cool shadow.

I didn’t capture his shadow in this last image but I did like the driftwood background as the Willet flew away.

Botany Bay Island, SC, August 4, 2019

Shore Birds

Willet On the Shore

November 30, 2017 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Although I have seen a Willet in flight it is more common to see them walking the shore, poking the surf and sand for food.

I didn’t see where he captured this fish but he took it to a wide open expanse of beach to consume it, alone. It’s size slowed him down. Just swallowing it wasn’t an option.

The pools left by the falling tide attract the Willets. Calmer than the ocean surf they often are a concentrated food source as the water drains away.

They will completely immerse their heads looking for food, tipping like a bobbing garden ornament.