Killdeerling
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2026 4:55 pm
Gosling, duckling, killdeerling....right?
The Killdeer had been putting on the broken wing display the past month each time I had been cutting the grass and on July 25th I finally spotted the eggs. This photo was taken the next day.
DL6A2078 by Glen Mercer, on Flickr
The nest was just a few feet short of the hay field(clover). You'll probably need to zoom in to see the Killdeer but you get a feel of the setting/scene from this shot that you can't get from the tighter crops to follow.
DL6A2081 by Glen Mercer, on Flickr
On July 28th they cut the hay field.
DL6A2193 by Glen Mercer, on Flickr
I thought I saw movement under the adult on July 30th but after hours of close scrutiny I concluded that what I saw must have just been a loose feather dangling from all the excessive pruning she was doing.
DL6A2331 by Glen Mercer, on Flickr
Luckily we've been able to spend a good portion of our time monitoring things through our telescope from the spare bedroom window. When I first looked out this morning, July 31st, I could see one of the chicks beside the adult. By the time I grabbed the camera gear and got set up on the deck, I could see a second chick but no sign of a third one.
DL6A2486 by Glen Mercer, on Flickr
Then mom stepped up off the nest and to my disappointment, there was nothing else to see, just two chicks.
DL6A2525 by Glen Mercer, on Flickr
Then as mom walked towards the hay field, a third chick popped up out of nowhere and stepped right in line.
DL6A2545 by Glen Mercer, on Flickr
They were up and off the nest in no time and although my photos don't reflect it, my magnified focus views through the lens were the best views I have had of any bird, and killdeer chicks, or killdeerlings, are one of the cutest birds I've ever seen.
DL6A2553 by Glen Mercer, on Flickr
The Killdeer had been putting on the broken wing display the past month each time I had been cutting the grass and on July 25th I finally spotted the eggs. This photo was taken the next day.
DL6A2078 by Glen Mercer, on FlickrThe nest was just a few feet short of the hay field(clover). You'll probably need to zoom in to see the Killdeer but you get a feel of the setting/scene from this shot that you can't get from the tighter crops to follow.
DL6A2081 by Glen Mercer, on FlickrOn July 28th they cut the hay field.
DL6A2193 by Glen Mercer, on FlickrI thought I saw movement under the adult on July 30th but after hours of close scrutiny I concluded that what I saw must have just been a loose feather dangling from all the excessive pruning she was doing.
DL6A2331 by Glen Mercer, on FlickrLuckily we've been able to spend a good portion of our time monitoring things through our telescope from the spare bedroom window. When I first looked out this morning, July 31st, I could see one of the chicks beside the adult. By the time I grabbed the camera gear and got set up on the deck, I could see a second chick but no sign of a third one.
DL6A2486 by Glen Mercer, on FlickrThen mom stepped up off the nest and to my disappointment, there was nothing else to see, just two chicks.
DL6A2525 by Glen Mercer, on FlickrThen as mom walked towards the hay field, a third chick popped up out of nowhere and stepped right in line.
DL6A2545 by Glen Mercer, on FlickrThey were up and off the nest in no time and although my photos don't reflect it, my magnified focus views through the lens were the best views I have had of any bird, and killdeer chicks, or killdeerlings, are one of the cutest birds I've ever seen.
DL6A2553 by Glen Mercer, on Flickr