Too many legs

I finally got to take my new gear into the field today. I was worried I would get rained out as I drove down the peninsula but Mother Nature smiled on me and the clouds gave way the minute I hit Palo Alto.
The Avocets are raising their chicks in the Baylands right now and the tiny little cotton balls are everywhere! They snuggle up to mom or dad whenever they get cold and then run out and feed in the mud. I had to laugh at all of the legs sticking out from beneath the parents.

When I arrived, I watched as another photographer raised the alarm call - two parents screamed and played broken wing in the street trying to lure him away from their chicks hiding in the pickle-weed. He backed away quickly and soon the family was reunited and searching for food. I watched from a distance for a while, noting where the family groups were and the alarm raised when cars drove by and decided that a blind was in order to avoid stressing the birds.
My Kwik Camo throw blind was perfect for the job. I sat on the ground with the blind covering me and my gear... A few cars stopped to stare but the birds walked right in front of me, babies and all, without a care in the world.

It's going to take a while to get used to all the new controls but the gear performed wonderfully. I think I'm going to like being a Nikon-girl again.