Bay Photos by Donna

Hello Everyone!  It’s been just over six weeks since my last post, and I was hoping to be back sooner.  I did well through my shoulder surgery and was back to work in ten days.  The doctor told me I’d be out 6-8 weeks for recovery, I told him what-no-I’m self employed, he said oh ok you’ll be back to work in a little over a week.  Yep, he was right.  Things have been a bit complicated however, as my mom had a heart attack three days after my surgery and just returned home a week ago from rehabilitation.  So I’ve had my plate of life quite overflowing these last six weeks, and finding any time to get back to my blog and reading others just hasn’t happened as soon as I wanted.   But I’m attempting to get back in my groove!

Good news, I was able to pick up my camera ten days after the surgery and start shooting without too much difficulty.  Don’t think I didn’t try sooner, LOL!   I was so glad when I could, as those first several days just sitting/resting on the balcony, I did enjoy watching all the birds going about their business but missed so many great opportunities.  It was driving me crazy, lol!  Once my camera was back in my hands and snapping away, I discovered all over again what happiness photography gives me.   🙂

And now on to some photos!  I’ve got a variety to share and decided to start with three ducks that continued to hang around our berms and waters up until the middle of April.  These three have since departed for their northern migration.  One of them is in my top ten favorites, those cute little Buffleheads.  Being in my top ten, they obliged nicely for some cool shots!

Male Bufflehead

The next two shots is of a different fella that I noticed had an odd-shaped flat head.

Male Bufflehead

Male Bufflehead – flat head

Here’s another fella who had popped up after diving and eating along the muddy bottom.

Male Bufflehead – mud on his bill

He just as quickly took flight, mud on his face and all!  I got lucky and locked on him as he took off.

Male Bufflehead

Male Bufflehead

Male Bufflehead

Male Bufflehead

A few more Buffleheads…..

Male & Female Buffleheads

Buffleheads taking flight

Female Bufflehead reflection

Male Bufflehead

Male Bufflehead

As I was photographing this next Bufflehead, a different duck appeared from a dive….

Male Bufflehead and Horned Grebe

It was a Horned Grebe, a newbie for me!  Here’s his photo op…..

Horned Grebe

Horned Grebe

Horned Grebe

Horned Grebe – flashing those red eyes at me!

While I photographed the Bufflehead and Horned Grebe in the last two photos, a third lone duck, an American Coot, also showed up from his diving.

American Coot

American Coot

Our area and waters are now brimming with a variety of spring/summer birds.  And the Osprey have made their debut in large numbers for lots of enjoyment but our osprey nest platform has remained nestless.  I do have a couple shots of Osprey attempting to start a nest but no takers remained.  However, it does get occupied frequently by the area resident Osprey as a perch and is almost a ‘divider or marker’ between their territories.  They certainly do like to chase each other off of it.  Which makes for great photo ops so I can’t complain!  🙂

I’m hoping I can keep up with my blog on a regular basis now and get back to reading your blogs.  I know I’ve missed so much!  A big thanks for catching up with me, I hope you enjoyed your visit.  Have a wonderful remaining week and upcoming weekend!