Crab Plover, Dromas ardeola - Zanzibar

[KevinA]

Wikipedia
"The crab-plover or crab plover (Dromas ardeola) is a bird related to the waders, but sufficiently distinctive to merit its own family Dromadidae. Its relationship within the Charadriiformes is unclear, some have considered it to be closely related to the thick-knees, or the pratincoles, while others have considered it closer to the auks and gulls. It is the only member of the genus Dromas and is unique among waders in making use of ground warmth to aid incubation of the eggs."

Crab Plover, Dromas ardeola

Crab Plover, Dromas ardeola, juv.

 

[AlanLichty]

Pretty markings - the adult is quite distinctive. The juvenile looks like it has longer legs at a glance but the head size suggests the body is smaller than the adult. Nice portraits of these birds.

 

[Michael13]

Even with 500mm you seem to be getting very close to your subjects - are you using a blind or camo or some other way to get in so close? Once again, images are just perfect.

 

[KevinA]

Pretty markings - the adult is quite distinctive. The juvenile looks like it has longer legs at a glance but the head size suggests the body is smaller than the adult. Nice portraits of these birds.

Thanks for looking and commenting Alan.

Even with 500mm you seem to be getting very close to your subjects - are you using a blind or camo or some other way to get in so close? Once again, images are just perfect.

Using a 500L and 1.4 Extender, giving me 700mm. Here are a couple of shots my wife took of me. As you can see, not exactly camouflage Just takes patients and very slow movements.

 

[Michael13]

Yeah, so much for blending in. You must be the most patient, slowest moving photog on earth!

 

[JimFox]

Ha ha, love seeing you in action Kevin! You have quite the birding outfit in that first one.

Both of these are great, and you definitely have more patience then I do. That's probably why I am so bad at birding.