What is there to say about a post that is essentially a gallery of Willets in flight? On the ground Willets are a bland bird but when they take to wing they are striking! The black and white flashing wings can be mesmerizing and that combined with their “pill-willet pill-willet pill-willet” cries make them noticeable and unmistakable even from long range. Willets are one of my favorite shorebirds and it is always a pleasure to come across Tringa semipalmata.
All the shots in this post were taken in a single morning at a couple of locations around Queens, New York. Enjoy!
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Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.
These photos are great. I always remember a willet is called a willet, because when I see one, I can think “Will it fly and show and off its fancy wings?” (you know, will it/willet)
these pics are phenomenal and i only wish to one day have half of this ability. thank you for sharing!
Yet another reason I love the NY Mets … their stadium is at Willets Point. 🙂
Thanks, all.
And, Meredith, I will forgive you your horrible taste in baseball teams. At least you have one good reason though…
@Corey: Huh, I’d think you’d have turned now, since you live in Queens! Oh, that’s right, you’re a Cardinals fan, aren’t you? (Likewise, I can begrudge you that because of their mascot)
For the past 2 weeks I’ve spotted a lone Willet hanging around the same area in the back bays in S. NJ. I was looking for him on Friday and found him taking a short bath, then he walked out of the water onto a small beach area and ran into the marsh grass. I got out my binoc’s and found his nesting site with 3 youngens, which was located only about a foot into the marsh, but well hidden. On Sunday, 5/8/2014 I was delighted to see one of his brood venture out onto the small beach. It’s been a wonderful and educational experience to watch the parents attend to their brood. The male’s take over all the duties now, and come fledge time it will be bitter/sweet. It’ll be interested to watch next year, if they usually choose the same nesting site each year!