Piping Plover chick: York County, Maine, USA, June 2026 — I complained about this last year, and I will probably complain about it next year (though by now I should know that no one else cares). Plover chicks are all but impossible to focus on. Not only are they fast and pretty much in constant motion, but they are just too fuzzy—too insubstantial—for the camera’s focus to latch on to. And their eyes are only half open, so even eye-tracking fails. Still, such a wonder to watch. Once more, I did not approach this chick. I sat on my stool well away from it, and eventually, it came to me. I took my photos and waited right there until it moved off far enough so that I could stand without alarming it (or its parents). And I flatter myself to think that while I was watching the chick, no crows or gulls could get close enough to hunt it. Win-win. As they say. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 Contemporary at about 700mm equivalent crop. Program with bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.