I was exceptionally lucky during my trip to Massachusetts to have the opportunity to photograph Piping Plover chicks. This endangered bird nests on select beaches of the US northern coast from March to July of each year. In fact, miles of beach access are completely closed to the public each spring in order to allow them to have undisturbed nesting habitat. To my great fortune and delight, a Piping Plover mom and chick decided to explore a public beach area on the morning I happened to be there searching for local birds and wildlife to photograph. Both the mom and chick are adorable and highly photogenic. Although they run very quickly, and I spent a lot of time dashing about following them and alternatively diving into the sand on my stomach to get to their level, they would stop and seemingly pose for me every so often resulting in the pictures you will see below.
Several times he stopped to check me out, just quietly curious and then went on about his exploring.
Awww, he's so fluffy!!
Lest you get the idea that this poser was easy to photograph, in the next pictures you will see him in motion, kicking up sand and leaving me in the dust!
He was like a little tennis ball rolling around on the beach!
Here he is dashing behind and past his mom. She was never more than 10 or so feet away, occasionally calling with a clear toned peep for which they are named the Piping Plover.
Mom is quite a pretty little bird herself !
The dune grasses are this little bird's resting and nesting habitat.
Exploring all the beach has to offer....
...and finding lunch!
A world of tiny wonders....
...and vast distances.
Fare thee well little chick!
Check out a very short animated Pixar film on You Tube entitled Piper! Very sweet.
