Birds Enroute To & From Work
My drive to and from work each day is 50 minutes of very little traffic through Maryland’s Eastern Shore farmlands and woods on Route 301. It’s an unstressful drive, where you can turn the radio up, put on the cruise control (a MUST!), and enjoy the beautiful rolling landscape. And if you keep an eye out, you will be treated with a wide variety of birds throughout the year. I usually have my camera but if I cannot quickly pull over safely, I just enjoy the sighting as I pass by. The turn-arounds and distance between them can be 5+ miles, so I rarely will do that. Well, maybe I have for an eagle if I’m not running too late. 🙂
I had previously posted about the Snow Geese sightings and have been lucky to see them constantly since. I actually saw a small flock landing in the rain on a farm on my way home tonight. A frequent spot that I previously mentioned was at Rolling Bridge Road off Rt 301. One day I got to see Snow Geese going through a huge lift-off at a distance. The sighting and noise was beautiful!
Two days later carpooling with hubby, I spotted a smaller flock of the Snow Geese there again, and this time they were close to the road. Rick turned onto Rolling Bridge which put me alongside them as they busily pecked through the recent snowdusting we’d gotten, while a few continued to land. I was able to slip out of the truck without much movement to photograph them.
Notice the American Bald Eagle in the next photo in the large tree on the right. I didn’t see him until I reviewed my photos on my computer. I thought that was cool!
Several times recently I have been amazed at the sightings of Wild Turkeys! All these years up and down Route 301, and I had never seen one until last fall when one came flying across the road in front of me (that almost scared the you-know-what out of me!) and then those this past month. I had no idea they were out there.
Wild Turkeys
Wild Turkeys
While photographing them, three deer came out of the woods and paused to feed with the Wild Turkeys.
Wild Turkey and Deer
There are always a couple of Red-Tailed Hawks along the way to and from work. Of all the wooded area and farmland, it seems funny that they perch to scope out the dual highway and the grassland between as a place to locate food. They will swoop down out of the tree to the middle and pounce on probably a small rodent, all while watching you pass by. If I spot one perched across the highway and can pull over quickly, I am lucky if I can get a decent shot because they usually take flight immediately. So, after many attempts this past month, here’s a somewhat decent shot of one.
Red-tailed Hawk
I will admit I am confused on identifying this next hawk. I first thought it was a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk but after looking at too many more photos, I’ve started second guessing myself. Broad-winged Hawk? Northern Harrier? This one took flight immediately and I got some flight shots which would/should help with the ID. Would someone be so gracious to help me out with this one? Appreciate it!!
Hawk
Hawk
Hawk
Hawk
Hawk
On my way home when I ramp off Rt 301 at Kent Narrows, there is water alongside the ramp and the Holiday Inn. I always look to see what’s visiting there. I spotted this next Great Blue Heron on a piling. Neat op I thought! I pulled into the Holiday Inn parking lot and walked down to the water but I was still at a distance from him for a close shot. Here he is enjoying the sun setting.
Great Blue Heron
As I was returning to my car, a Red-winged Blackbird was perched in a tree just a few feet of me, singing his song. He seemed so happy!
Red-Winged Blackbird
Red-Winged Blackbird
That’s my latest enroute bird photos! I hope you enjoyed them and appreciate your visit. As always, thank you!
Birds Bring A Smile
Our temperatures have been flip-flopping like the rest of the U.S. from the low 20’s to the upper 60’s, it’s crazy! We are thankful we’ve only had small snow dustings here and there. Hopefully, we make it to Spring without anything significant occurring before then.
The Buffleheads’ continue their daily visits around our berm, always providing a lot of enjoyment. They are small and quick and one busy duck! This time I was able to capture the lighting on a male to show his iridescent colors around his head.
Male Bufflehead with three Female Buffleheads
Male Bufflehead
Male Bufflehead with a little wind behind him!
Another day, another couple……
Male & Female Buffleheads
I had previously posted a terrible capture of a female Common Goldeneye, but it was a first sighting for me. She continued to visit at sunrise for a several mornings. This time I did a better job showing her beauty!
Female Common Goldeneye
Female Common Goldeneye
As I walked out onto my balcony at sunrise one morning, a small flock of Canada Geese had started a descent towards our berm in the cove to try to get some relief from the winds that morning. I captured a few as they dropped, they are pretty darn good at their maneuvers!
Canada Geese
At a day’s sunset, I captured these male and female Mallards off in the distant, crossing over the sun shining on the water as it was setting.
Male & Female Mallard Ducks
This group on another day, just loitering around our berm.
Mallard Ducks
Saturday a week ago, we were running a little late leaving for work to do some catching up. And I was so very happy we did because just before finally being ready to go, this juvenile American Bald Eagle suddenly landed on our osprey nest platform for just a few minutes before taking flight. 🙂
American Bald Eagle – Juvenile
It was this past Friday that we had near 70 degrees weather; I pulled up at home and spotted these two American Robins on the ground. It certainly felt like a spring day with their sighting!
American Robins
American Robin
Even during the winter, I occasionally ride down our drive to our community’s marina to see what might be perched or swimming around the docks. It’s exciting to find a surprise, which this past Friday I did. I sighted a dozen Ruddy Ducks, some sleeping, some watching. I parked the car and was able to walk up to them while staying out of sight to try to get some close shots. I was eventually spotted by the watchers, but they didn’t seem to care about me as I didn’t move any closer. They offered some beautiful portraits in the reflecting waters. 🙂
Male Ruddy Ducks
Female Ruddy Duck
Male Ruddy Duck
I see you too!
Male Ruddy Duck
Finally, a photo of our visiting Great Blue Heron, this time he’s leaving me! We had quite a few Mallards around the berm where he was perched in the brush at the base of the osprey nest platform in the cold. The Mallards were noisily chattering and darting around which And seemed to annoy the Great Blue Heron enough for him to take flight right between their group, scattering them. He just gracefully flapped away!
Great Blue Heron
I’ve been working a lot of overtime for weeks now and have gotten majorly behind in everything it seems. That includes my keeping up with my fellow bloggers, so please excuse me, I miss you and will be back to catch up!
Thanks so very much to everyone for stopping by to see my latest captures. Some how some way, these birds keep my sanity in tack! 🙂
Winged Delights!
This past week we continued to enjoy a variety of interesting birds from our backyard balcony, some returning and some new for me! Our temperatures have been in the 20’s-30’s with a few snow dustings. For those new or unfamiliar with my backyard, here’s a photo.
My “Backyard” from my balcony at sunrise
I’ll begin with my new birds. They were each a curious “what’s that?” sighting, followed by photo-taking, and then reviewing on the computer to identify. It always feels cool to photograph a new bird for your list! 🙂
The male and female Gadwell were a treat! They were mixed in with several male and female mallards at the base of the osprey nest platform.
Gadwell – Male and Female
Another day and another new visitor! I surely didn’t do her justice with such a terrible photo!
Common Goldeneye – Female
The next shot is a hawk that I don’t know if it’s identifiable, he literally flew right in front and past me while I was watching something else.
Hawk (to be announced!)
Although the Dark-eyed Juncos have been around, I finally got a clear-enough shot to confirm his identity.
Dark-eyed Junco
Our regulars still continue to delight!
Male Bufflehead
Male Bufflehead – diving to feed
Female Bufflehead
Female Buffleheads
Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant – diving to feed
Another Double-crested Cormorant – drying off
Foreground – Duclair Mallard (also called White-Bibbed Mallard)
Background – Male & Female Mallard
We were fortunate to have a small flock of Canada Geese stop and rest along the berm at our osprey nest platform, joining a group of Mallards. Everyone was quiet and peaceful, until one Mallard seemed to be too interested in another’s mate and Mallard fighting ensued right in the middle of the geese.
Fighting Male Mallards amongst Canada Geese
He’s outta here!
This male Mallard presumes he is the winner!
Still struttin’ his feathers!
It quieted back down after the skirmish. I enjoyed watching the Canada Geese as they preened and stretched their wings, they usually stay at a distance in the water.
Canada Geese
Canada Geese and Mallards
Canada Geese
Have I been spotted??
Large numbers of Canvasbacks raft up in Marshy Creek daily in the mornings and evenings.
Long raft of Canvasbacks
Canvasbacks comin’ in for a landing!
Even the Belted Kingfisher continues to visit. I captured him down on Lipincott’s Channel Marker 3 in Marshy Creek.
Belted Kingfisher
I had mentioned before that the eagles in the area were very active now. This eagle prepared to attack a raft of ducks but wasn’t successful. He continued to fly around and eventually caught a fish.
American Bald Eagle attacking raft of ducks
The male Eagle took the fish to the ice where his partner was waiting and handed it over to her. So sweet! All was happy.
American Bald Eagles
But then along came the other two pairs of Eagles I mentioned; and as the male took flight to scare them off, one of the intruding Eagles attacked the female Eagle on the ice, trying to snatch the fish.
American Bald Eagles
The mate to the intruder came in to help while the lone female Eagle on the ice fought to keep her fish. Her partner was still in the air chasing the other pair.
American Bald Eagles
Somehow she was successful, and the intruders flew over to the close-by osprey nest platform in Marshy Creek and perched for a brief time, before eventually leaving the area.
American Bald Eagles on osprey nest platform in Marshy Creek at CBEC
American Bald Eagles
Finally, how can I not end my post without sharing more captures of our regular, the Great Blue Heron?!! I have SO many photos of him but the GBH is so photogenic. I love it when I happen to see him coming and can get a decent shot of him in flight showing his massive wings.
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron – coming in for a landing!
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron – another arrival
Great Blue Heron – struttin’ his stuff!
Great Blue Heron – you can tell this day was cold!
Great Blue Heron – wearing an overcoat of feathers
Finally, a couple scenes of our sunrises over Marshy Creek. Sometimes they are nice…..
Sunrise over icy Marshy Creek
And sometimes they are brilliant!
Sunrise over Marshy Creek
I’ll post this last shot that was a spur-of-the-moment and I liked it. I snapped this over our community’s fence overlooking Lipincott Marina’s sailboat yard at sunrise another day.
Sailboat masts at sunrise
I hope the migratory birds continue to hang around a little while longer for our enjoyment but very soon they will be on their way north. Which means in turn, the Osprey are feeling the migration tug to head back north to our area from their tropical winter grounds. So although we will be losing some beautiful feathered-friends, we will soon be sighting our missed ones for another season of delight of the wings!
As always, thank you for the visit, I appreciate it and you! 🙂
Cedar Waxwings
A quick post (shhhhh, I’m at work!), as I cannot contain my excitement any longer and wait until I have more time to finish up my planned next post. Arriving home couple nights ago as I was getting out of my car, I heard a sree singing in the tree to my right. The sun was setting behind them through the buildings so it was hard to make out what species they were but I knew they were different to me, I’m thinking……”Cedar Waxwings?” Took a couple cellphone photos for documentation just in case, then backed away and went inside to get my camera while scolding myself for neglecting to carry it with me that day! I was sure they would be gone when I returned.
I got lucky! Instead of coming back downstairs, I peaked over from our third floor front door balcony and saw they were still in the tree. With my zoom lens I confirmed they were Cedar Waxwings. WOOHOO! There were eleven total. They saw me and didn’t allow much time for a photo op before they flew away. BUT I got them! 🙂 This is a new bird for me both sighting and photo and a specific one I’ve wanted to capture. I have always been fascinated by the Cedar Waxwing’s sharp contrast in colors when viewing others photos. They almost appear to have a 3D effect to me.
Cedar Waxwings
Cedar Waxwings
I can’t believe I sighted them, especially here in on our community. I wish the lighting could have been better but I’m still thrilled to have gotten some shots. I hope you like! 🙂
OK I’ve posted, so now I feel better…..now back to work! 😉 Have a great weekend everyone! GO RAVENS!!!
A Variety of Visiting Birds at Oyster Cove
I am truly amazed and thankful over and over again when I think how fortunate I am to get to enjoy such a variety of birds from my ‘backyard’ from my third floor balcony overlooking Marshy Creek, Prospect Bay, and Kent Narrows and within the community. To my OC community neighbors, keep your eyes opened and binoculars and cameras always ready to check out what’s visiting! With my busy schedule, I really only have an hour or so in the mornings at sunrise and an hour if I’m lucky before sunset to stand on my balcony to watch and photograph. Here’s the variety I’ve seen these past few weeks in that short time span each day without really trying! Note, the early morning and evening hours usually afford you more sightings when birds are out and about flying and feeding.
And now onto the birds! I’ll start with some Scaup shots. I really tried to research and properly identify which type of Scaup they were, Greater or Lesser, both are so close in looks. I decided they were Lesser Scaup by their head shape and ‘greyer’ feathers, but someone please correct me if I’m wrong!
Lesser Scaup Male
Lesser Scaup Males
Lesser Scaup Males on another day
Canada Geese hung around for several days in the cove alongside us, trying to stay out of the winds we were experiencing.
Canada Geese
Canada Geese
Canada Geese in flight
Regulars off and on are the American Coots.
American Coots
American Coot
American Coots
Here’s someone who kept flying by me begging for a snack or a photo op. He got the op!
Ring-billed Gull
This next fella was not interested in a photo op, once he saw me, he moved away from the berm and quickly swam to a safer distance to dive and feed.
Cormorant
Out on the water, large rafts of ducks appear as they fly in to meet up with others. Life is safer in numbers!
Canvasbacks
Raft of Canvasbacks
For two days I watched six Tundra Swan also hanging around. This pair were really photogenic even on a cloudy day when the snow showers were beginning.
Tundra Swan
Tundra Swan
Tundra Swan “heart”
Our House Finch residents are always happily flying around, sometimes they like to watch me photograph other birds. It’s always a challenge to spin around and catch a shot of them before they take off. Got both the Mr & Mrs this time!
House Finch Male
House Finch Female
House Finch Male returning for another visit with me!
With so many Mallard Ducks around all year round, I tend to not photograph them often. With the temps in the upper teens early one morning, I watched these curled up sleepers on the berm under the osprey platform. On the rocks are barnacles.
Mallard Ducks
My next two birds are newbies for me and neither are the best of shots, but I had to show them! 🙂
Longtailed Ducks
Horned Grebe Female
Horned Grebe Female
Finally, I cannot do a post of bird photos without sharing at least a few of our daily visitor now for several months, our Great Blue Heron. 🙂
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Additional recently visiting birds not shown here but are here at Oyster Cove are Buffleheads, Ruddy Ducks, Surf Scoters, a Belted Kingfisher and the mesmerizing American Bald Eagle. Yes OC neighbors, we have eagles in the skies more regularly now. I watched early Sunday morning six of them flying over Marshy Creek, two pairs trying to steal a fish from a female eagle sitting on the ice. I’ve yet to go thru the numerous shots I took to see how good any might be, the distant they were at and the frigid temps were a bummer for my lens. Hopefully some are good enough to show some action fight shots in my next post.
Whew! What a bunch of photos, sorry about the long post! It proves to me I need to post more often. So a BIG thank you for taking the time to stop by and view my post, I hope you had a cup of coffee or tea to enjoy during your visit! 🙂
Snow Geese
Back in early December within a mile of my office in Middletown, Delaware, I felt lucky to experience a large flock of snow geese feeding in the farm field for three days before moving on in their migration adventure. With the throes of life at the time, I had gotten lazy in carrying my camera; but as I was arriving towards my office at sunrise, right alongside the huge Amazon.com facility on the farm field I sighted thousands and thousands of snow geese. WOW! I called hubby to see if he had left home (he hadn’t), asked him to grab my camera (he did), and bring it to the office (thanks honey!). I then sat briefly, watching and listening to them before getting to work. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until noon that I got back out with my camera and the snow geese were gone. I was bummed! I ran my errands and headed back to work, when I found a smaller flock had landed across the highway on another farm. I parked the car and got out to take a few shots. The snow geese were noisy and restless.
Thousands of Snow Geese
I don’t know what spooked them but in just a couple minutes they suddenly began to take flight. All of them!
Snow Geese taking flight
I started the muttering we bird photographers do to ‘entice’ our ops to us…..”please come this way, over here, this way, please, PLEASE!”
And so they began heading right towards me. Sometimes it works! 😉
Snow Geese – Here they come!
Snow Geese – Up and over!
Snow Geese
Snow Geese
Snow Geese
The snow geese made the decision to continue to move on instead of circling and relanding where they were as they sometimes do. Something indeed had spooked them. What a sight and noise in the sky!
Snow Geese on the move
The next morning, the snow geese were back but the size of the flock was much smaller. Staying on the ground in the distance didn’t offer much photo ops for that day.
The third day as I arrived into Middletown, the flock was already high in the sky, creating their “V”s while cruising through. I stopped and watched the attached sighting unfold. It appeared a large “V” of snow geese had decided to race a jet.
Snow Geese racing a Jet!
Five photo frames later and the snow geese proved they were faster! 😉
Snow Geese in the lead!
Just a little fun there! 🙂
Those three days were a treat for me, especially since then I’ve not had a chance to get to Blackwater NWR or Bombay Hook to see them. I hope you enjoyed them too. And as always, thank you for stopping by!
A Bit Late But……….. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Hello Everyone, I hope all of you had a wonderful and safe holiday season! I’m finally back after MIA for a couple months. My daughter was getting married back mid-November and I needed just a ‘small’ leave of absence for the planning and festivities but I never planned it to be this long! Sorry!!
The wedding was beautiful from start to finish! Then Thanksgiving quickly rolled around which whisked us off to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (a future post is imminent with my visit to Pinckney Island NWR during that trip). Then Christmas was upon us. During all this time my mom has been ill and in and out of the hospital. She’s home now and fairing much better as I write. 🙂
Enough of the excuses, I’m back and ready to share the nature I observe and photograph from my third floor balcony overlooking Marshy Creek, Prospect Bay and the south end entrance of the Kent Narrows, nature which never stops pleasuring those that will take the time to stop, look and listen……
First for my blogging diary, I want to record the fact of my last sighting of a transient osprey who was perched on a Rt. 50 sign here in Grasonville this past November 13 and 14. I was not able to tell if it was an adult or a juvenile but he/she seemed comfortable up there perched, one day eating a fish! 🙂 A bit late in migration, I wondered if he got thrown off his travels by Hurricane Sandy and was attempting again to head south.
So here we are! Old man winter is trying hard to enter our area recently with crisp, cool days. And he’s also bringing along our winter visitors who fly in for the season for our community’s pleasure and my ongoing nature photography passion! Here’s who’s been arriving these last couple months….
But first, some shots of our gorgeous Great Blue Heron, who never left for a migration and continues to visit us almost daily around the berm and osprey nest platform. At dawn, I still find him frequently perched on the nest platform, facing the rising sun, waiting for it’s imminent warmth.
Great Blue Heron at dawn
Great Blue Heron at sunrise
And then he’s sometimes just prancing around the rocks, doing a little fishing while keeping an eye out for any enemies.
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron havin’ a laugh!
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron – wingspans can reach six feet wide!
This next shot is for fun, it really cracked me up. What a stance, Mr. GBH!
Great Blue Heron – struttin’ his stuff!
It is now the American Bald Eagle’s mating season and activity and sightings in our skies are much more promising. I’ve seen more sightings of eagles in the last two weeks than I’ve seen for months. What a sight to behold! For those in the community, keep your eye on our osprey nest platform and Lippincott’s channel maker #3 where they love to perch during the winter months.
American Bald Eagle on Lippincott’s channel marker 3, eating a fish
American Bald Eagle, passing on by!
Another frequent visitor to our osprey nest platform recently is this Belted Kingfisher. Such a tiny, cute fella!
Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher at sunset
Belted Kingfisher
Those adorable Buffleheads began showing up in November and can be seen almost daily, diving for food.
Male Buffleheads at sunrise
Male and Female Buffleheads
Ruddy Ducks and American Coots have joined us as well!
Male and Female Ruddy Ducks
American Coots
It seems they may have moved on, but last week for several days we had the pleasure to observe 20-30 Surf Scoters tightly grouped and diving/feeding at the entrance of Marshy Creek. I’ve captured this species further down Maryland’s Eastern Shore, but this was a first for me here at Oyster Cove. 🙂
Male and Female Surf Scoters
Surf Scoters
Surf Scoters (males have orange and white bills)
Surf Scoters taking flight
In addition, Canada Geese and Tundra Swans have arrived in our area. At sunrise, it is a delight to stand outside quietly and listen to them chatter to one another. Pretty cool stuff.
Stay tuned as I continue to share who’s visiting our area, or other nature photos I take along my excursions. And as always, thank you for stopping by! And to those blogs that I subscribe to, I’ll be back in touch with yours, I miss you!!
Kent Narrows Area After Hurricane Sandy
We ventured out a little after 10:00 am this morning, 4 1/2 hours after high tide, and were shocked at the flooding waters in our area. We had actually been stranded at high tide with both directions of Rt 18 flooded out if we had tried to leave our community at that time. Both ways were still flooded and we were directed to get directly onto Rt 50 through the lowest waters. We drove down to check on our boat on it’s trailer on dry land and it was fine. The kids called and our building in Middletown only suffered minor water intrusion at the doors that were packed with towels so we made out fine there too. Decided to close the office another day, what the heck. Had enough stress the past day, needed a day to relax, really. Family everywhere did well, only our son and his family lost power and are still without power at this writing. They have relocated to her parents temporarily. All in all, we are blessed with no major problems. Those that were not so lucky, our hearts go out to each person.
We only stayed out a half hour, all roads off of Rt 50 along Rt 18 had many closures for small stretches. We are a low-lying coastal community and we swell with water every time a high high-tide along Rt 18 hits. Our townhouse/condo community buildings are built on piers, so water that does crest as it does on the Point on the Narrows at times, will flow throw the lattice to the drains in the streets. Our morning drive through still showed water flooding the grass and street there at the Point.
There were many police officers, SHA patrolmen, and equipment blocking closed roads while attending individual situations everywhere we turned. So we decided to go back home and not be in the way. I tried to grab a shot out the window while passing by the short drive we did on Rt 50. Here’s a few that luckily turned out. A reminder, these are 4 1/2 hours AFTER high tide.
Winchester Creek from Rt 50 – piers’ walkways are under water & yards crested @ 10:21 am.
Beach Harbor Trailer Park – the normally dry frontage/entrance is under water at 10:22 am.
Beach Harbor Trailer Park – To the left of the sign in previous photo 10:22 am.
Kent Narrows Yacht Club – walking piers & roadway entrance into KNYC flooded, 10:29 am.
Fisherman’s Inn Restaurant & Crab Deck front parking lot & piers in background are completely under water at 10:30 am. Truck in bottom right entrance by white boats is stopped at the water line.
From my balcony overlooking Prospect Bay after returning, 10:48am. Kent Island to the right, Gibson Island back center, and edge of Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center to the left. Winds S 20 mph, gusts 30 mph. Sandy is still blowing.
Here’s a few photos, courtesy of Mears Point Marina down at the Kent Narrows.
Mears Point Marina 9:00 am, courtesy of Mears Point Marina Newsletter
Mears Point Marina 9:00 am, courtesy of Mears Point Marina Newsletter
Mears Point Marina 9:00am, courtesy of Mears Point Marina Newsletter
Annie’s Steak House’s parking lot with Mears Office in background 9:00am, courtesy of Mears Point Marina Newsletter
Red Eyes Dock Bar, Kent Narrows, 9:00am courtesy of Mears Point Marina Newsletter
With the continuing 20-25 mph South winds, water is continuing to blow up the Chesapeake Bay, keeping it from receding for our 11:55 am low tide. It’s a little after 3:30 pm and the water is rising for the upcoming 6:28 pm high tide. The local stations are saying we are going to have another high high-tide so it appears we will have a repeat of local flooding. Could it be higher than this morning’s since the water didn’t recede very much?
Here are two photos just taken, the waves are crashing over the riprap already. Not so good at three hours before actually high tide of 6:28 pm.
Overlooking Prospect Bay at 3:25 pm – waves are crashing over the riprap in front of the bench.
The cove to the right of my balcony at 3:27 pm, waves are splashing over the riprap. The previous high tide residue is seen to the far right from this morning’s high high tide.
Appreciate your following my blog, it’s been fun and scary keeping a photolog of Hurricane Sandy here in our area. It certainly helped my nerves! 🙂
Hurricane Sandy Over Prospect Bay – The Morning After
Hurricane Sandy has left a path of destruction throughout the East Coast. Through the night our area was blasted with continuous high gusts in the 50-70mph winds; and it was scary, I really expected our windows to blow in from the direct winds pounding them. But here I am, with electricity no less, thanking God we were spared here at home. Silly me, we slept with the bathroom exhaust fan on in our bedroom to help drown out the howling wind. Honestly, it helped! I am still amazed and cannot believe we did not lose power overnight. As daylight begins to appear, I can see Kent Island has power along their waterfront. I did get up at at 5:40am to see what the high tide due at 5:51am was doing. It appears we had an extra 2-3 feet of high tide, it was crashing up over the riprap onto our grass with debris. The winds are still at 20+ mph from the south, gusting in the low 30’s, along with a steady rain. I now do feel safe. 🙂
As we wait for the Governor of Delaware to lift the driving ban, we are watching TV and seeing all the destruction north of us. Heartbreaking. Our thoughts are with everyone that has been affected. We are anxious to know how our commercial building fared in Middletown, Delaware, and should know soon, once our daughter & son-in-law who lives close by can slip over there to check on it soon as the driving ban is lifted.
A silver lining with the aftermath. Look who also made it through the storm safely and returned this morning for a little fishing?
Our daily visiting Great Blue Heron, who also survived and returned this morning.
“Our” Great Blue Heron
I’ve watched him for a little while, he’s still out there trying to figure how to get to the water and be able to stand safely to fish.
The aftermath of this morning’s high tide. Thankfully it wasn’t real bad!
For those that were in Sandy’s path, continue to keep safe as you check out your local area. I’ll see if I can get out to get some photos.
Thanks for stopping by and keeping up with me through Hurricane Sandy!
Hurricane Sandy Over Prospect Bay – Update @ 7:30 PM
Ok. I’m not having fun. We are watching TV real loud so we cannot hear the wind and rain. But the darn building is really shaking and vibrating. Come on Sandy, stop! We are now in the 50-70 mph bands for the next few hours. THEN it should start to subside slowly, thank goodness and I hope so.
Here’s my final photos of today as the sun set and it grew dark…..
Hurricane Sandy 10/29/12 @ 5:16pm (CBEC) – 42mph, gusting to 56 mph
Hurricane Sandy 10/29/12 @ 5:17pm – 42 mph, gusting to 56+ mph
Hurricane Sandy 10/29/12 @ 5:17pm – Overlooking Chesapeake Bay Environ Ctr
High tide this evening was at 5:51 pm. The next photo shows we had a normal high tide. The winds blew the Chesapeake Bay out instead of in….but tomorrow morning’s 5:39 am high tide will be a different story as the winds shift and blow the water in from the south throughout the night. I’ll try and get photos but it’ll be before daylight.
Hurricane Sandy 10/29/12 @ 5:41pm High Tide – 43 mph, gusting to 56+ mph.
Hurricane Sandy 10/29/12 @ 5:42pm – Overlooking Kent Narrows South Entrance markers with Kent Island in the background.
Hurricane Sandy 10/29/12 @ 5:43pm – Overlooking Prospect Bay
As is everyone else in Sandy’s path tonight, we’re in for a sleepless night. Power outages are occurring all around us into Grasonville, and on Kent Island. My son just called to check on us and was surprised we still had power. It’s went off three times but came right back on. Keeping fingers crossed but I’m thinking it is inevitable.
For three other Chesapeake Bay blogs tracking the storm, check out Nature – Just Outside My Door, The Eastern Bay, and A Chesapeake Journal.
If you’re one of the millions of people in Sandy’s path, PLEASE stay safe and secure.
Bay Photos by Donna 