A Bird’s Playground
Since my last post, Sunday and Monday were very windy keeping the birds to the trees and grounds, followed by a super calm Tuesday. When it is this flat & quiet, it’s like a painted picture; there’s usually at least a breeze and/or a rolling tide and/or boats rippling the water. Here’s two photos from that day about an hour before sunset to share, and to also give you a sense of my ‘backyard’ from my balcony where those birds I photograph pass through or stop by to visit. The first photo is my view to the left of our osprey nest (Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center in background), and the second of my view to the right of our nest (Kent Island in background with Kent Narrows south approach entry channel markers 3 & 4). Just a big, beautiful playground for all those birds share!
Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (CBEC)
Right is Kent Island and Kent Narrows South Approach Entry Channel Markers 3 & 4
Tuesday seemed to be my lucky day this week on birds. That Tuesday morning, we had an osprey visit our nest platform briefly. I watched & photographed from inside my glass slider to stay out of sight, he landed & immediately made threatening calls out to another osprey flying high overhead. I don’t think they were buddies! LOL Once the other osprey flew off, he settled down and began to pick at the nest a little, and then was off and gone. Here’s two shots at sunrise. It was nice to see an osprey on our nest platform!
Osprey
Osprey
That’s the only osprey I’ve seen land on the nest since my last post. But they are definitely in the area, those that I’ve posted on around us are continuing to secure where they’ve decided to begin nesting. I’ve also seen five at one time, so more are arriving or passing through. Hey, our nest just might be the Oyster Cove Nest Depot this season! We might have some interesting visitors and of course fly-bys, so it’ll be fun to see what happens.
After that osprey’s departure, I did step outside with my camera and immediately saw two immature eagles playing over at CBEC. It’s at a distance for cropping even for my telephoto lens but you can still see their fun!
Immature American Bald Eagles "Playing"
Immature American Bald Eagles "Playing"
Immature American Bald Eagles "Playing"
Immature American Bald Eagles "Playing"
They continued to frolic in the skies, chasing and entwining. It was pretty cool to see wildlife having some fun!
The next shots are a first for me of a Pied-billed Grebe, a plump pigeon-sized bird. He was alone, diving and feeding, and then gone. Just a quick visitor!
Pied-billed Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Smilin' for the camera!
I did capture a small flock of cormorants flying by Monday at sunrise.
Double-crested Cormorants
Finally, a shot that I missed posting last time from my boat trip of someone’s waterside retreat, I just love how inviting it is….can’t you imagine being in it on a nice summer’s day?!! 🙂
As always, thanks for stopping by!
