Western Willet in Grasslands National Park

This Western Willet chose a roadside slough as its nesting place in Grasslands National Park, and each time we turned that corner, we watched for it — or its fledging offspring — on the gravel.

This mottled shorebird breeds mainly in inland areas in the Prairies and Mid West, then winters along the coasts of North and South America. Though fairly dull on land, in flight, Western Willets have a stunningly bold black and white wing pattern, which (I hope) one day I will (I hope) capture... (And yes! Click the link!)  But birds in flight can be little trickier than one standing on a rock...

Western Willet watching us, and watching its young fledgling. © SB 

Fledgling Western Willet, hiding in the grass. Gotta love camouflage. © SB 

What are these birds? An adult and a young Western Willet - Chevalier semipalmé

Location: Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada Prairie Passages Tour

Photo date: June 26, 2013. 

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Western Willet: Shorebird with grey legs and long grey beak

This Western Willet, a mottled grey, buff, white shorebird, was feeding in one of our insta-spring-lakes near Regina, Saskatchewan.

It dipped and bobbed its way across the flooded area beside the grid road, swallowed morsels of something it plucked from the water, then ambled on.

Western Willet, near Regina, Saskatchewan.   © SB

What is this?  Willet - Chevalier semipalmé

Location: Temporary slough, south east of Regina, Saskatchewan.

Photo date: May 26, 2013. 

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