Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)

A pair of exquisite Black-necked Stilts are seen here feeding in the mudflats of the San Joaquin Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary of Irvine, California. I saw these birds in early May, 2014. Like many an Orange County resident, they might be occupying their time searching the real estate listings for a suitable summer home. Black-necked Stilts typically breed between April and August and will often hide their clutch close to a nourishing feeding site like this one.