In 16 years of photographing birds I’d only seen a Wilson’s Phalarope chick once and that guy was half-grown. Three days ago at Bear River MBR I photographed phalarope chicks that were much younger.
They weren’t easy subjects to photograph well. They were far away and their tiny fuzzy bodies were very difficult for my active focus point to lock on to. As a result, many of my photos of them were noticeably soft and I never once had enough depth of field to get all of the birds in the frame sharp.
But they were phalarope chicks and I was so excited about finding them I had to share a few photos.
I got lots of high-quality photos of individual adult phalaropes but this isn’t one of them. You’re about to see why I’m including it.
The only reason I took this photo is because I was curious about what the male phalarope was doing. His normal feeding behavior changed as he poked around the edge of this green island in a large body of very shallow standing water. He wasn’t picking tiny insects off of the grasses as I’d seen him and other phalaropes doing. His behavior was curious but hard to explain. It was just different than it had been.
A different crop of the same photo begins to explain his behavior. Sharp eyes will notice three tiny reddish chicks hidden in the grasses in front of him. The chicks were cautiously making their way down to join their dad.
Here we see two of them. I don’t know why but their reddish color surprised me.
Dad began to make his way to another island about 20′ out of frame to our left as he encouraged his youngsters to follow him.
Just look at the size of those feet. I can’t imagine how they avoid tripping on them.
They were obviously nervous about crossing the very shallow open water to reach the relative safety of other island. A static photo doesn’t show it very well but these little guys were usually running. The chick on the right looks like it’s about to topple over, maybe because of its huge feet.
Finally, they reached the muddy shore of the other island. That’s dad at lower left.
This is the last I saw of these three chicks. Almost immediately they disappeared into the grasses and never came out again while i was there. I was so very lucky to catch them in transit.
But there was a Tail-end Charlie bringing up the rear that I hadn’t seen until just about the time this photo was taken. That little guy joined the other three and disappeared in the grasses.
I couldn’t believe how tiny those chicks were. I usually couldn’t even see them with the naked eye. To spot them I’d have to look through my viewfinder again and even then I sometimes couldn’t find them.
Tracking them and getting them sharp was even harder.
Ron
PS – Late yesterday afternoon, after hours of fiddle-farting around and many attempts at pulling out hair I don’t have, I finally figured out what was going on with my primary computer and managed to solve the problem. So it’s looking like it won’t be going into the shop, at least not anytime soon.
They must have some big shoes to fill.
I also laughed at the size of those feet! I don’t know how they manage to lift and run with those size 12’s! Will take a lot of growing for the body to catch up.
Glad you caught that series.
Thank you for so many wonderful bird photographs. As I saw these I though, well that Phalarope is not too late! And I wonder where the expression about being too late came from (“Too late the Phalarope”)?
” I wonder where the expression about being too late came from (“Too late the Phalarope”)?”
I have no idea, Mary. And after looking up the book by that title on Wikipedia I still don’t know.
Such adorable little fluffer-butts — the perfect “Father’s Day Eve” post! Apparently, phalarope “pheet” grow to adult-size long before their bodies do. I can identify with that as I’ve had my clod-hoppers since 6th grade. And yes, they’ve caused me to go ass-over-teakettle more than once. 😂
Be careful, Marty. At least for me, going ass-over-teakettle these days has far more negative consequences than it used to. Big feet or no…
I loved “phalarope pheet”.
Talk about right place right time!!!! Two words: adorable & feet. 🤣
Glad you enjoyed them, Kathleen. Thanks.
In image #5, I couldn’t spot the foot at first. I finally realized that giant thing was actually the foot. It looks like they start out with feet and legs the size of an adult’s. I was expecting a leg the size of a toothpick.
“I was expecting a leg the size of a toothpick.”
That’s the natural thing to expect, isn’t it Linda. I got a chuckle out of your second sentence.
What little cuties. Look as I might I could not see them in the first photo.
And a big yes me too to those who wonder how those feet fit in an egg.
“I could not see them in the first photo.”
They’re subtle, EC. You have to look for 3 reddish patches amongst all the green.
TOO much fun! 🙂 I don’t know how they walk with those feet? Guess they need them so they don’t sink in the muck.
Finally got the irrigation in the yard running – pump – 10 to 15 years old – finally froze up and burned up despite RV antifreeze and draining. No small chore replace that – f1hp with 2″ in and 1 1/2″ out). Fortunately a younger, stouter, friend was available to haul and do the wiring part….. 😉 Getting too old for this shit. With them running I got a close view of a pair of Waxwings (Bohemian I believe) REALLY getting into their shower!
Happy Father’s Day – gets away from me also….. 😉
“Getting too old for this shit.”
Judy, the timing for that part of your comment was impeccable.
When I read your comment I’d just sat down at my computer after WATCHING my friend Shane do some work on the underside of my pickup for me. When I got down and ‘tried’ to look under my pickup to see if I could do it myself, those exact words went through my mind.
I WAS too old for that shit.
Congratulations on such a rare and technically difficult capture. It’s clear these birds are very cautious and deliberately secretive. A wise survival strategy.
Thank you, Robert. I’m sure that if I hadn’t been there for those few seconds when they were moving from island to island, I’d have never seen them. Not a chance.
Adorable and wonderful find! First time seeing a chick for me. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thanks, April. It was the first time for me seeing phalarope chicks that young.
What a fabulous day you had! Hard to picture how those enormous legs/feet fit in a little egg. And their bills- even those are pretty long. I just read a little story about 2 lion brothers swimming across a mile-wide river. About as harrowing for these little chicks, to cross that big open space. Wow, wow!
“Hard to picture how those enormous legs/feet fit in a little egg.”
I keep thinking the same thing, Carolyn. I’m sure that chick has grown a little since it hatched, but still…
That is too cute Ron. I have never seen them and based on my 18 years experience here doubt that I ever will. Thanks for posting this.
It has always amazed me how nature provides such a fast grow up for its birds and animals. We just witnessed a trio of Ravens close by hatch and fledge and within a week or so they are fully adult. And Pronghorns right from the womb struggling to stand and then before you know it trotting off with the adults.
Thanks, Everett. When I was a kid my mom often told me that I was growing up too fast. At least for birds there are obvious advantages.
Such cute chick! Those very are killing me!
I hope it doesn’t go that far, Peggy. 🙂
OMG—what a fun experience for you ! Maybe chick feathers evolved
to be a reddish color so that the parents could find them in the green
reeds…..THOSE FEET ! I’m always amazed how frequently your
post can make me laugh out loud first thing in the morning . Thanks
for sharing your adventure…….
Kris, the older chick (half-grown) I photographed eight years ago barely had any red in it. Who knows about the reason for their red color when they’re very young. The avocet chick I photographed that same morning had no red at all.
Soooo cute! made me smile a bunch.
Good. Thanks, Suzy.
Probably the cutest/most ridiculous baby birds I have ever seen. Thanks a lot Ron, and Happy Father’s Day to all you good dads out there.
I agree, they don’t come much cuter, do they Burrdoo. Sure wish I’d been closer to them.
And I used to think that baby Killdeer were the cutest babies! Love this post, Ron. I only see WIPH in migration, so I’ve never seen the youngsters. Now I have a new experience to add to my ever-growing birding bucket list. Happy Father’s Day!
Diane, Bear River MBR is right at the southern edge of their breeding range, except for a small, isolated pocket in southwest Colorado. So most folks in the US would have no opportunity to see Wilson’s Phalarope chicks.
Just love these photos! Also appreciate how you came to get these by perceiving such a subtle unusual behavior that most folks would never notice. Great fieldwork.
In that 7th photo, is that a tiny undeveloped wing being lifted by that fella on the right?
Those huge legs and feet. Pretty amazing that at such a young age that they are able to run around with those things.
Put a smile on my face this morning.
In case you do not post tomorrow, Happy Father’s Day!
“is that a tiny undeveloped wing being lifted by that fella on the right?”
It sure is, Michael. I got several other photos of that little guy doing the same thing.
Thanks for the heads up about Father’s Day. I wasn’t even aware…