Finding Mountain Plovers in Panoche Valley involves scanning miles of open fields, trying to find "rocks that run" (or, in some cases, cowpies that run). Although the birds favor very different fields in different years, once spotted, they tend to be loyal to the same spot throughout the winter. This photo is actually an example of the birds being easier to find; imagine spotting these birds while the grass is still brown.

And yes, there really ARE Mt. Plovers in this shot; at least six, maybe more. Check out the next two shots for a better look.