Eastern Wild Turkeys
While recently exploring the remote “Neck District” areas of Dorchester County, one bird sighting that we seen often were Eastern Wild Turkeys. A couple dozen would be foraging along tree lines. Quite skittish, they would run into the woods at the sight and sound of a vehicle. The males would ensure the females were safe before they too would follow.
Eastern Wild Turkey, male
We luckily happened upon a dozen or so Wild Turkeys alongside the road. I saw several poults as they and their Mommas were scattering into the tall grass. I got lucky with one capture of a poult who was hiding and watching. Momma was just behind in the grass.
Wild Turkey, Poult
Again as before, the females quickly disappeared into the tall grasses and woods while the males hung back. This was the last male to retreat.
Eastern Wild Turkey, male
He just strolled along, in no hurry, which was great for me.
Eastern Wild Turkey, male
I quicky zoomed in for this final close-up shot as he headed into the shade and woods.
Eastern Wild Turkey, male
From southern Canada to southern Mexico, there are actually six species of Wild Turkey:
– Eastern Wild Turkey (the species our pilgrims first encountered)
– Rio Grande Wild Turkey
– Merriam’s Wild Turkey
– Osceola or Florida Wild Turkey
– Gould’s Wild Turkey
– South Mexican Wild Turkey
Cool Fact: Not only do Wild Turkeys fly, but they can at high speeds. There have been recorded flights of up to 55 miles per hour. Can you see a Wild Turkey flying alongside your vehicle, keeping up with you at that speed?? Mercy!!
Bella & Beau 2018: Osprey Nest Comparisons and Those Teenagers
(Osprey nest location: Cambridge, Maryland, USA)
July 7, 2018
That nest….or lack thereof! Bella & Beau have proven they are a young, inexperienced couple with their nest building capabilities. Here’s a photo of the Bella & Beau’s nest platform today alongside their nest four weeks ago. Today there is not much at all inside, except almost full-grown chicks with the antics of teenagers.
June 6, 2018 July 7, 2018
Look at how the chicks have grown in four weeks too!
Bella still occasionally brings grass or sticks, but it breaks up quickly with the family tramping on it, the chicks playing with it, as well as the weather’s elements. It is comforting to witness the constant care Bella gives on keeping the chicks within the nest platform rails surrounding them, scooting them away from any edge.
Bella brought this grass to the nest yesterday. It is already ‘gone’!
Our Chesapeake Bay region hosts approximately one-quarter of all Ospreys in the United States. The Osprey’s goal is to have their nest over water so that they can see 360 degrees for predators. One of the most favorite places to have a nest is on one of the many large channel markers throughout the Bay.
These are photos of just a few of some of the other Osprey nests on our local Choptank River taken about two weeks ago.
Osprey nests on Choptank River channel markers.
Osprey nest on Choptank River channel marker.
The Osprey population on the Chesapeake Bay is so large, there is competition for those prime spots. You know how quickly real estate waterfront property goes!
Osprey are creative and will find a place to nest.
Osprey nests in dead trees at the river’s edge.
Even the river’s overhead powerlines were attempted for a nest. 😦
Osprey nest on a hunter’s winter blind.
Just as Bella & Beau’s, thankfully many human platforms have and are still being created and placed over water throughout the Bay area to help Osprey with additional safer locations to nest.
Osprey nests on manmade platforms.
Osprey nest on manmade platform, with three chicks.
Although we see what Bella & Beau are dealing with for a nest, these next photos will show much more challenging nests to have a family within. Building on these type of channel markers are quite dangerous on being successful. Yet these have chicks on them too.
Same Osprey nest on challenging channel marker at different angles.
Osprey nest on another challenging channel marker.
Osprey nest on another challenging channel marker.
Osprey nest on challenging channel marker. This Osprey pair knows what they are doing!
This next nest will make a lot of boaters cringe.
Osprey nest on a boat. YIKES!
I’ve seen nests created in the most surreal places and still succeed with a family. So our hope is Bella & Beau can keep their teenagers in check with rules and safety.
The teenage chicks continue to fill out with beautiful feathers and long wings. The oldest is now seven weeks, while the youngest is 6 to 6½ weeks.
Bella watching over her teenagers.
My, how they have grown!
There is a darkening on the chest occurring on both chicks, possibly indicating we have two females.
As with the rest of the United States, the heat and humidity here the past week was terrible, with heat indexes in the low 100’s.
Bella is shading both chicks (one is hiding) while Beau is on lookout for predators.
Bella has been very good at providing shade to her chicks…..
“Mombrella” Bella
“Mombrella” Bella
Including flapping and dripping on them after a quick dip.
Bella hanging around the chicks while wet, while she’s eyeing something above.
“Drip on me, Mom, it feels good!”
Even in all the heat, the teens have kept up with their flapping exercises.
Feelin’ the breeze!
Even in a windy rain shower, the teens kept practicing, the oldest one is here.
Not to be outdone, the youngest practices shortly after the oldest finishes.
The rain shower had to feel good too!
Teenagers sure know how to take up their space when lounging around.
All in all, things have progessed well with the challenges Bella & Beau and those growing teens have faced and succeeded with to date.
I’ll end another week’s post in the life of Bella & Beau and their family with last night’s sunset.
Sunset over Bella & Beau on Cambridge Creek – July 6, 2018
Sunset over Cambridge Creek – July 6, 2018
(For all the posts on Bella & Beau’s 2018 season, you can click HERE.)
Happy 4th of July, America
It is not usually my style to post on the same bird simultaneously, but our road trip adventure yesterday presented a Bald Eagle photo opportunity I wanted to share, and how appropriate on our America’s 4th of July holiday.
In the distance, the Eagle flew across the road and up into a tree alongside. We slowed down and there he was, perched in the shade.
Temps were in the mid-90’s with heat index over 100. The Eagle was panting to help with cooling off.
Bald Eagle panting in the high heat, see his tongue?
Then the sun popped out from behind a cloud.
Bald Eagle panting.
He looked back at me with that Eagle eye vision.
Bald Eagle
And then, finally, I got the eye glint. Yes!
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
As always, thank you for visiting; I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful day.
An Eagle Vs. A Red-winged Blackbird
At all my visits to Blackwater NWR, there are several specific trees that I always check for a perched Eagle, including one tree that is directly in front of you on the wildlife drive before it curves to the right. I’ve been lucky to sight an Eagle there several times before, including a post that I shared of some of my best captures of this gorgeous bird last year HERE.
During our last visit, coming down that stretch of the wildlife drive, there he/she was, just as I had hoped. Stopping back a ways so I could hopefully exit our car without disturbing the Eagle and be able to move around, I took my first shot. Oh boy, he was watching me. I thought, oh no, he’s going to fly, and I wanted to get closer!
Bald Eagle
Wow, no flight. And the Eagle didn’t seem to even care about me as he looked off to the distance. So I slowly walked a little further down the wildlife drive and took several more shots.
Bald Eagle
I was in awe of his beauty. Again, I moved closer still and was starting to move a few more steps, when suddenly a Red-winged Blackbird came out of nowhere and started to harass the Eagle.
The Eagle took flight to avoid the nuisance.
Red-winged Blackbird attacking a Bald Eagle.
Red-winged Blackbird chasing a Bald Eagle.
The Red-winged Blackbird stayed right behind him, not giving up.
Red-winged Blackbird chasing a Bald Eagle.
Moving quicker, the Red-winged Blackbird caught up to the Bald Eagle for another hit.
Red-winged Blackbird attacks the Eagle again.
That last attack put the Eagle on notice to pick up speed.
Bald Eagle moving quickly to get away from the attacking Red-winged Blackbird.
The Red-winged Blackbird stopped his pursuit and turned back while the Eagle kept on the move.
Bald Eagle leaving the area.
Most likely, the Red-winged Blackbird had a nest very close by and considered the Eagle in his territory. He was back to his own perch, looking pleased with his accomplishment.
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
As in this instance, sometimes the underdog wins. 🙂
Bella & Beau 2018: Splish Splash, Bella Takes A Bath and How About Those Chick Wings
(Osprey nest location: Cambridge, Maryland, USA)
June 29, 2018
We all know birds love water; and it is always entertaining to watch a bird take a bath. In addition to drinking the water and for some cooling off, birds regularly bathe primarily to clean and maintain their feathers. And usually the bath is at the edge of a body of water or an erected shallow bird bath.
The Osprey, however, will regularly drink, cool off, and bathe in the same deep water that they fish, so preening and waterproofing their feathers constantly is important to keep their feathers from getting saturated. Osprey secrete a pungent, oily substance from a preen gland at the base of their tail that they spread all over their feathers for that waterproofing purpose.
With Bella stuck on the nest after the hatchings for such a long duration, I was happy to see her leave the nest a month or so ago and dive directly into the water below, flapping her wings back and forth, floating and dipping herself. She had gotten quite dirty with those heavy May rains, brooding the chicks, all those feedings, and even having spots of chick poop on her that didn’t quite make it out the nest back then.
It happened so quickly, and I wasn’t prepared with my camera, but I got to watch her bathe. She looked like it felt so good. And when she returned to the nest, I will admit I was very happy to see that poop off of her.
I’ve seen her many times since dive below and bathe. But I never got any photos that were sharable.
Finally, a week ago I was watching the nest when Bella took a dive. I quickly tried to get my camera off the tripod and lock on her but didn’t make it. A drenched Bella flew back to the nest where Beau was perched. She then chirped at him and, just like that, she took flight and dove again. I was still putting my camera back on the tripod. I moved a little quicker, missed the bath darn it, but got three nice shots of her lifting out of the water this time.
Bella lifting out of the water after a bath.
Bella getting airborne after a bath.
Bella is airborne and heads back to the nest.
Excited and hoping I got the shots, I started to put my camera back on the tripod; and, would you believe, Bella chirped at Beau again and took a third dive.
This time I succeeded on a 19-shot burst of Bella bathing and uploaded it as a slideshow.
Splish Splash, Bella is taking a bath.
I think that showcased one drenched, clean, and happy Bella.
The chicks continue to grow and change. Their feathers are coming in quickly and their wings are growing longer and longer. The chicks are able to stand now and are awkwardly stretching and flapping those wings.
The oldest chick standing and flapping those awkward wings.
The youngest chick gets into the act.
The youngest chick is at it again.
It’s like watching a toddler learn to walk. 🙂
The chicks’ dark eyes have now attained their bright orange/redness.
When an Osprey reaches about three years old, their eyes will change to bright yellow like Bella & Beau’s.
Amazingly, the Osprey’s eyesight is eight times sharper than that of humans.
You can see from the photos the sad nest remains basically unchanged. I have not seen Beau bring any more nesting materials, and Bella brings mostly dead grass and leaves. She continues to guard the chicks from the edge, thankfully.
I had the opportunity a few days ago to photograph other Osprey nests on the Choptank River and will be sharing these in another post to compare to Bella & Beau’s. Surprisingly, Bella & Beau’s nest has more going for their family than others I photographed.
How about a family portrait?
The Family
I’ll end with another setting sun shot took while Bella was flying overhead (I missed her in the shot) and the chicks lay low. I didn’t see Beau, he was probably perched close by on possibly either a sailboat mast, in a tree, or on the Cambridge water tower keeping watch over his family.
Sunset over Cambridge Creek, with Bella & Beau’s nest off to the right.
(For all the posts on Bella & Beau’s 2018 season, you can click HERE.)
Hey, I Was Here First
I happened upon a Great Blue Heron on the embankment alongside the wildlife drive at Blackwater NWR. Didn’t he hear my car pull up behind him?
Great Blue Heron
He was so close, he had to. He just chose to ignore me.
Great Blue Heron
Why? Because he had better things to do. Fish!
Great Blue Heron
I slowly pulled away to give him back his space, so he could continue his mission. This Great Blue Heron wasn’t leaving his spot no matter who pulled up behind him. Rightly so! Isn’t that one of the rules of fishing, that he was there first? 🙂
Bella & Beau 2018: Healthy and Growing Chicks
(Osprey nest location: Cambridge, Maryland, USA)
June 24, 2018
It is wonderful to post that Bella & Beau’s two chicks continue to look healthy and have grown tremendously in the last two weeks. The oldest chick is about 5 weeks old, followed by the second chick that is about 4 to 4½ weeks old.
Beau chick-sitting while Bella is out retrieving nesting materials.
It is now noticeable that there is quite a difference in size between the two. This is possibly one of two reasons. Either the second chick is perhaps the third egg that hatched and it was the second-born chick that was lost, making the smallest chick possibly 6-7 days younger; or the largest chick is a female (who gains weight faster than the male) and/or the smaller chick is a male.
Bella dries off while the chicks check out the world around them. Notice they have been recently fed by the fullness of their food crop between their neck and chest.
In a couple more weeks, it should be possible to tell the two chicks’ gender by their size (female is larger) and the brown speckling (or lack thereof if a male) on their chests.
An Osprey nestful as Beau looks at us and asks, “What have I gotten myself into?”
Amazingly, the two chicks have now attained about 75% of their adult body weight. In the photos you can see the feathers on their heads have come in while the dense, wooly down on their body is in its stage of being replaced with the growth of feathers.
Feathers begin to emerge on the chicks’ bodies.
The chicks’ wings have also grown substantially. They can be seen stretching and trying to flap them. This exercise will increase more and more each day. In 2-3 weeks the chicks should be ready to fledge!
June 14 June 23
As the saying goes, Bella & Beau have surely “had their hands full” with the full-time care of their large, awkward babies who are awake for longer periods and like to migrate around the nest with curiosity.
As seen in the photos, the nest still remains in a challenging state. I hate to tell on Beau, but he doesn’t seem to care about retrieving any more sticks. Bella will demand to the point she is quite loud, but Beau ignores her and stays perched on the nest.
Bella demanding Beau go for nesting materials.
After fruitless demanding, I’ve watch Bella time after time go and come back with sticks and soft materials while he stays put. Some nest growth begins and then it diminishes as sticks are knocked off onto the dock or in the water below.
Bella gives up on Beau and takes off to get nesting materials.
“Where did Mom go?”
Bella immediately returns with a stick while Beau watches her.
I looked for information about inexperienced Osprey and found that the produced nest of a young Osprey pair’s first season will be quite small, less than 2½ feet in diameter and only 3-6 inches deep. So, okay, we will give Beau that one.
Bella appears to have taken over supplying nesting materials to the nest.
Hopefully, some stick ‘gates’ that Bella keeps placing will get lodged in tight enough. In the meantime, Bella can be seen moving strategically around and perch alongside the nest edge to block any chick she feels is too close to the edge.
Bella sensing the chicks are leaning out too far over the edge of the nest.
Bella positions herself between the edge and the chicks, getting them to back up a bit.
Bella succeeds in the chicks getting back away from the edge.
It gets clearer and clearer that Bella is in charge of the nest.
Beau decides to help Bella but Bella clearly makes the final decision on that stick placement.
When the chicks are up and hungry, Bella bellows to Beau that demand as well. Beau seems to have this figured out better and is working hard to keep up with the demand.
Beau “bringing home the bacon”…..I mean fish!
Beau must be doing a fairly good job as evidenced by the large food crops the chicks show often.
Bella still is and will continue to feed the chicks for another couple weeks before they can feed themselves. Most times the oldest chick eats first while the youngest patiently waits his/her turn. With plenty of fish meals, the normal sibling aggression is almost non-existent for now which is good.
The youngest chick gets his/her feeding after the oldest has had his fill.
Even though Bella gives Beau a hard time with her demands, at the end of the day there’s still a bond that they reignite.
Bella & Beau flying together overhead their nest for just a few minutes.
Another evening and another flight for Bella & Beau.
And another gorgeous sunset we all got to enjoy!
(For all the posts on Bella & Beau’s 2018 season, you can click HERE.)
Eastern Painted Turtle
Blackwater NWR is home to eight species of turtles.
One of the most commonly seen is the Eastern Painted Turtle. They can be sighted throughout the refuge’s waters or basking on the mudflats, logs, or anything else they can climb on.
Eastern Painted Turtle
The Painted Turtle is the most widespread native turtle of North America.
Eastern Painted Turtle
There are four subspecies of the Painted Turtle: Eastern (mine captured here), Midland, Southern, and Western. Unfortunately, the Western Painted Turtle is on the Endangered Species list. The last of it’s population lives on Vancouver Island.
(So sorry for the long hiatus, I was not well after my previous post but am now doing better and have been trying to catch back up with life. For my Bella & Beau followers, a post is forthcoming. They and their two chicks are still thriving!)
Bella & Beau 2018: Growing Chicks and Bonding Between Bella & Beau
(Osprey nest location: Cambridge, Maryland, USA)
June 11, 2018
After their last post, I’ll start off by saying this update on Bella & Beau is much calmer. I think this one will warm your heart.
The two chicks seem to be thriving well. As all baby birds do, the chicks basically eat and sleep. They can be heard chirping at feeding to get Momma Bella’s attention.
Both chicks vying for Momma Bella’s attention to feed them.
Each chick appears to be getting plenty to eat. Momma Bella gives attention to each one.
If you enlarge these two shots, you’ll see the chicks both trying to eat the same piece of fish. Reminded me of the children’s Disney movie, “Lady & The Tramp” where they shared a piece of spaghetti.
They have now even learned how to back up to poop over the rim of the nest. Obviously, this is important!
Chicks must learn to help keep the nest clean.
The chicks developed their food crop at one week old. It is now evident to see as the growing chicks eat and pack it at each feeding.
You can see these chicks’ food crop bulging below their throats during the end of a feeding.
Now at 2½ and 3 weeks old, the chicks are actively crawling around the nesting cup, sitting up and curiously looking out. They even approach Momma Bella when it is feeding time.
The chicks have learned the art of preening as they lose their first down feathers that are being replaced on their bodies by a thick dark, wooly-looking second down that’ll last another week or so. Their head and neck has begun the growth of their golden feathers. Their body’s darker feathers will appear on the rest of their body a little later.
The chicks have also developed their light brown streak on their back that runs the length of their spine. Appearing as a ‘stick’ in the nest, this helps to camouflage the chick while they lie down in the nest to sleep or ‘hide’ from an overhead predator.
Chicks with their wooly-looking second down and light brown ‘stripe’ that helps to camouflage them in the nest.
Beau is on the move back and forth, bringing fish after fish. He is still providing food to Bella as the chicks.
Beau delivering another fish. Now the chicks have interest when food arrives.
This time the fish is not headless. Beau must not have been hungry or felt the family needed the nourishment more.
Up until dusk, Beau is still delivering.
The chicks are also having the normal sibling aggression which is commonly a peck or a blow delivered to the back of the neck, head, or tail. It occurs mostly while waiting for food or during the beginning of the feeding time and is usually done by the largest chick. So far, it’s not been too bad or often.
Oldest chick being aggressive with the other chick.
Oldest chick being aggressive with the other chick.
As to Bella & Beau’s nest, as you can see in this next image, it is still in dire need of growth. The nest is going to remain a major concern and challenge. It is important to keep the chicks ‘gated’ to avoid a mishap.
While the chicks are active, I’ve watched both parents move and perch on the edge where the chicks were ‘headed’ to block them. This is a good thing.
Nest on 6/10/18.
We know nest protection is obviously still a daily chore. The area’s Osprey ‘regulars’ still fly overhead but have stayed their distance.
Bella watching another pair of Osprey flying high over her and the chicks.
There are two other frequent birds that are not predators, but Bella & Beau still have a distaste for — Cormorants and Great Blue Herons. Scare attacks by Bella & Beau are common to force either to move on.
Beau doing scare attack swoops down at Great Blue Heron who is on their nest dock.
“Geez, what did I do?” “I am outta here!”
A Double-crested Cormorant arrives. Bella & Beau take note. A chick is curious.
The Cormorant saw Bella coming and dives quickly to avoid the attack.
Another attack by Bella, as the Cormorant gets further away.
Finally the Cormorant flies away and Bella returns drenched and probably exhausted.
“That was my Momma!”
Then there is the human disturbance. Bella & Beau aren’t quite sure what to make of that species. Overall, they tolerate humans and the boats they ride by in.
If feeling somewhat threatened though, one parent will remain on the nest while the other flies overhead, circling. Alarm calls might be voiced, if someone approaches on the dock or finger pier.
Osprey normally do not attack humans, but I’ve noticed they seem more agitated with a dog or kayakers below them. Bottom line, if an Osprey feels threatened, it will attack.
Bella keeping her eye on the kayaker.
“Dorothy-Megan” an 80 foot working replica of an authentic paddlewheel riverboat, one of two that comes by on sightseeing cruises around the area. This caused Beau to take flight while Bella stayed put.
As I end this update, I wanted to share what I’ve seen twice this past week that confirms the life-time bond and love story that Bella & Beau have created.
I watched with wonderment as Beau, followed by Bella, left the nest and took flight, circling above the nest.
There was no intruder in the sky, just the two of them.
Bella & Beau reuniting their bond in an aerial courtship, just for a moment, away from the challenges of the nest.
Bella & Beau flying and reuniting their bond.
Bella & Beau look happy!!
For all the challenges faced and those still to come, it surely warms the heart to see Bella & Beau’s bond is still strong.
After another bout of showers, tonight the cloudy skies opened up to give a brilliant sunset.
Sunset over Bella & Beau on Cambridge Creek – 6/11/18
Bella settles in for the night – 6/11/18
(For all the posts on Bella & Beau’s 2018 season, you can click HERE.)
Cloud Reflections at Blackwater NWR
Back in May after several days of heavy rains and flooding, we visited Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
The views were spectacular.
Blackwater NWR, Cambridge, Maryland – May 20, 2018
Blackwater NWR, Cambridge, Maryland – May 20, 2018
Blackwater NWR, Cambridge, Maryland – May 20, 2018
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”
— Frank Lloyd Wright
