These subtle and graceful birds with their plaintive calls are familiar to most birders in the western US.   They breed in dry areas but disperse widely in winter.   These were photographed at Andrew Molera State Park near Big Sur, Bolsa Chica wetlands, Palm Desert, and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area (all in California), and at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.

• Canon 1D Mk. II, 1D IV, or 7D2; 800 mm f5.6 IS lens or 500 mm f4 IS lens + 1.4X or 2X converter, some with fill-in flash (2004, 2007, 2009-2012, 2016)