Three Kitty Photo La Honda, CA

To view photos of the eggs in a Plover nest hatching please click here.

To view two-day old Plover chicks, please click here.

Jack's Snowy Plover Photos

These photos were taken on Francis Beach at Half Moon Bay State Beach as part of the Plover Watch volunteer program.

Lupine above the dunes on Francis Beach.	Lupine and bumblebee above the dunes on Francis Beach.	It is foggy and lonely this day on Francis Beach.	Fishing is a common activity on Francis Beach.
There sometimes are diehard beach-goers.	Gulls on Francis Beach. There can be hundreds of them.	Occasionally the gulls are disturbed and all rise into the air.	After a few circuits of the beach, the gulls settle back on the sand.
Western Snowy Plovers are small birds - about fist-size.	Plovers run over the dunes and to and from the water's edge.	Plovers lie still in footprints as two people approach with their dog.	Male Western Snowy Plover.
Some plovers are banded for identification	Female Western Snowy Plover.	Parent plover preparing to sit on nest.	Parent plover sitting on nest.
An "exclosure" - a fenced area to protect a Plover nest - is built.	Building both walls and roof.	The walls are wire mesh.	Staff and volunteers all work on the project.
Each nest contains 3 precious eggs in a "scrape" in the sand.	Snakes are potential predators of plover eggs.	After about 28 days, the eggs hatch. To view photos of the eggs in a Plover nest hatching, please click here.
To view photos of two-day old Western Snowy Plover chicks, please click here.		Adolescent plover chick.	Fledgeling plover.
Horses are not allowed on the beach.	Off-leash dogs can be a real threat to Plover chicks and adults.	On Memorial Day the beach is crowded.	Plovers aren't the only birds on the beach.
Young terns await the return of their parents with food.	Several different gulls can be found at Francis Beach.	Flights of pelicans grace the sky.	Pelicans then dive into the waves for fish.
Sanderlings with their long beaks are often found with the Snowy Plovers.	Other shore birds feed in the waves and on the beach.	Surf's up!! Surfing is only one of the human activities on Francis Beach.	The End

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