Shorebird at the Slough

Meet the Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)!  The boys and I had an interesting close-encounter with a Willet last summer!  Willet's are fearless dive-bombers that will defend their young ... even if you are on the gravel road and riding your bikes with no intention of going anywhere near their young!!!  Yes, they can be an intimidating bird, especially when they get within arms reach of you all the while scolding you!  That being said, don't let their dull grey figure fool you.  In flight, the flash of their striking black and white wings certainly can serve as a warning!  Willets mainly glean the ground for insects and in my opinion, any bird eating insects, dive-bomber or not, is a good bird to have around!