Oliver and Olivia at Rest
A quick update since so late, I wanted to report I sighted Oliver and Olivia on Lippincott’s channel marker before day-break again this morning which made my drive a little nicer. 🙂 I wasn’t able to get out of the office and home until 6:00pm and was disappointed that I didn’t see or hear an osprey when I arrived. I kept a look-out and finally at 7:30pm I found them both sitting back on the channel marker. 🙂
Oliver and Olivia on Lippincott's channel marker - March 15, 2012
West horizon clouds shortened our sunshine so my lighting was decreasing by the minute and I really didn’t get any better shots to post more. But I did watch them for a little bit, as they preened their feathers or just sat together looking around and at each other. Some rest and cleaning is most in order so they can begin their home repair. Maybe they chit-chatted on the upcoming renovation! 🙂
I want to extend an invitation to the Oyster Cove community that it would be wonderful to hear from you if you’d like to report some action or you’ve taken a photograph of our osprey this season that you’d like to share. I’d be glad to post your info and/or photo with credits to you of course! Let me know by email.
I’m sorry such a short post this evening, but I wanted to give an update and post a photo of Oliver and Olivia from today. Aren’t they sweet?!!
Until next post, take care and thanks for stopping by!
Oliver and Olivia Have Returned to Oyster Cove!
What an exciting post to share! As I write this, I believe it is Oliver and Olivia who are presently perched on their nest platform here at Oyster Cove in Grasonville, Maryland. Osprey days are here again! Here’s the day’s recap…..
I was up dark and early. And at 5:35 a.m. I was peering through my binoculars at the nest platform and over at Lippincott Marina’s channel marker to see if I could spot the silhouette of an osprey. Nothing. The half moon was shining bright, so I captured a shot to share it’s beauty. 🙂
Half Moon - March 14, 2012 @ 5:35 a.m.
I kept an eye out to the nest as I hurried along getting ready. One final check before I left for work concluded no sightings of an osprey. I was bummed, I wanted to stay and watch, but that doesn’t pay the bills….LOL
About five miles from us along Rt. 50 (BUSY dual highway, three lanes each way), there are two osprey nests that are directly over the highway on road signs that I’ve discussed in past seasons. Long story short about these two nests, I tried to get the Maryland Dept of Transportation to remove the nests February 2011 prior to the ospreys’ return to force them elsewhere and hopefully away from the highway where we lost a chick in 2010 from a direct hit by a vehicle while it was learning to fly. Because the nests did not block the lighting of the signs and were not a safety hazard, MDOT wouldn’t do anything about them. So I worried for those two families all last season and will again this year. Anyway, this morning as I checked out these two nests while passing by them, there was an osprey on one of the signs eating a fish. 🙂 Here are photos from 2010 of these two nests, and almost exactly where I saw the osprey sitting this morning on the first one. I was excited, another osprey in the area!
One of two osprey nests along Rt. 50, Grasonville, MD - July 22, 2010
A second osprey nest about 1/4 mile from the other along Rt. 50, Grasonville, MD - July 20, 2010
We had another gorgeous day today, mid-70’s, no wind, clear skies. Everyone I spoke to had spring fever bad! Just after 5:00 pm I arrived home and, of course, went directly out to my balcony. An osprey was perched again on Lippincott’s channel marker eating a fish as yesterday evening. If any of the neighbors were outside, I imagine they heard me whoop & holler! 😉 (sorry neighbors!)
Osprey on Lippincott's channel marker - 3/14/12 @ 5:07pm
Osprey on Lippincott's channel marker - 3/14/12 @ 5:07pm
And just then a gull came swooping down to the osprey to check out what the osprey was eating. The osprey just looked at the gull….
Gull coming in to challenge osprey for fish
Osprey tells gull - "I dare you...."
Osprey unnerved by a gull
I think the gull was a wise bird to move on. The osprey finished the fish for another few minutes and then departed out of sight. It returned half hour later to perch, constantly looking around. Ruddy ducks, canvasback, and scaup were in the background, feeding and chatting.
Osprey on Lippincott's channel maker; ruddy ducks, canvasbacks & scaup in background.
Meanwhile, I was also watching a raft of coots who were working their way towards the osprey, hoping they’d pass in front of the osprey. They did…..
Osprey and American Coots
The osprey perched a few minutes longer before departing out of sight. Thirty minutes later I saw it hovering over the osprey nest platform, as if inspecting it, then continued to fly off to the right to the Kent Narrows south entrance green channel marker and landed for a few minutes. It seemed there was a restlessness going on with this osprey. Maybe it has an inkling someone is soon to arrive?? (hint hint)
Osprey inspecting what's left of last year's nest.
The nest needs a lot of repair.
Osprey landing on Kent Narrows south entrance green channel marker at sunset 7:09 pm
I didn’t see the osprey depart the marker and I didn’t sight it’s whereabouts. Back and forth I went, looking and searching the skies, even left the sliding glass doors open so I could hear. And then at 7:20pm, I heard excited osprey chattering and went to observe. I watched a pair of osprey land and perch on Lippincott’s channel marker, Oliver and Olivia’s favorite perch second after the nest.
Oliver and Olivia - Welcome Back March 14, 2012
I feel 99.99% sure our Oliver has returned and joined Olivia for another season. YEAH! The closeness of the feedings & perching to the nest and nest visits, the two osprey immediately hanging together, as well as the early arrival to secure their home makes me feel that. Young osprey returning take a couple years before they find a mate, then the pair has to find a place to nest, then try to figure out how to build a nest to call their home; they also usually have a difficult time taking over an established pair’s nest if the pair or even just one has already returned. The older osprey are a wise species! If it is indeed Oliver and Olivia, we should see them immediately start spending some time bonding and playing in the skies and on the nest as they haven’t seen each other since they migrated separately last fall. Gotta get a little lovin’ going on! Rest, of course, is also needed after the long trips they both endured. And then just as quickly, they will get busy on repairing and rebuilding the nest. Olivia’s clock will start ticking and she can be one bossy gal when it comes to her home. And Oliver has proven to be one heck of an architect; and for those following another season with me will remember, Oliver is really into decorating with trashy decor like bags, plastic, fishing line, screens, dock line, McD’s bag, a small box, and anything else that catches his fancy. It will be exciting and nerve-wracking to see what he finds this year to use! (plastic & fishing line can be dangerous entanglements to the osprey)
In the next few days and the more photos I can get with chest and wingspan shots, I’ll be able to do some comparisons to actually confirm it is Oliver and Olivia, but I’m really feeling our ‘daring duo’ (as follower & neighbor Mary calls them) is back. I like the nickname, Mary!
Life is good when the osprey return. Stay tuned! 🙂
An Osprey On Oyster Cove’s Nest – Was It Olivia?
This morning, as the last few mornings and evenings, I’ve been on my balcony with my binoculars, exploring the skies, listening to the sounds, searching for an osprey. Seen eagles enjoying a high soar, ducks flying about their day’s adventures, even a bit of honking from what sounded to be a pair of Canada geese over at CBEC. But still no osprey, not our Oliver or Olivia, nor a transient just passing through on his way to his summer home destination.
Today was a beautiful spring day in the low 70’s, partly cloudy skies, the winds finally dying down to a breeze from the past several days of 20-30 mph south/southwesterly winds. With the time change and darker mornings, my plans are now to be on the road sooner to work so I can convince myself to leave on time, if not a little sooner to come home to sky-watch. Succeeded today, I arrived home about 4:15pm. 🙂 No osprey though, was hoping to see or hear one when exiting the car. From my balcony I didn’t spot any, just a bunch of gulls fighting over a large fish that if any good, I’ll post at a later date, and two separate eagle sightings in the distance.
Around 5:00 pm, a small rain cell from the east passed over us out of nowhere. After it passed, I was back on the balcony trying to capture a not-so-bright rainbow over Lippincott’s channel marker to my west , and a wide-angle shot of our osprey nest.
March 13, 2012 @ 5:20 pm
Oyster Cove Osprey Nest from my balcony - March 13, 2012
It was then I heard a kew-kew-kew-kew sound from above. What? Looked up and found an osprey soaring above me in the breeze, chattering (at me?), and then catching a wind that took it out of my sight over the roof before I had a chance to react with my camera. Was it Olivia??? I grabbed my tripod and watched and waited. Within five minutes, the osprey returned, coasting the breezes, circling the nest and landed.
Osprey
Osprey
Osprey landing on Oyster Cove nest platform
Osprey
Osprey
Osprey
Osprey - Welcome! Are you Olivia?
The osprey did not turn towards me so I could try & capture a frontal shot to compare to the last couple years photos to help confirm if it was indeed Olivia’s markings. It did keep looking down and around of what was left of the nest, as if thinking, what the heck happened to my home? Also, the osprey did not make any noise while on the nest. Previous years as Olivia waiting for Oliver, she would perch on the nest, just keep looking at it, then leave. You could almost see her shaking her head in disgust, LOL.
After a couple minutes, the osprey took flight over towards Marshy Creek and disappeared. Thirty minutes later, the osprey was on Lippincott’s channel marker to the left of the nest in Marshy Creek, eating a fish. 🙂
Osprey on Lippincott's channel marker eating a fish while keeping an eye on its surroundings
Osprey on Lippincott's channel marker eating a fish
Osprey on Lippincott's channel marker eating a fish while keeping an eye on its surroundings
That channel marker is a favorite perch for Oliver and Olivia. Especially while the other is on egg or baby-duty. The osprey continued to stay there, enjoying the setting sun.
At 7:53 pm, almost two hours later, the osprey was still sitting on the channel marker, in the late dusk.
I would love to say it is Olivia, and my gut feeling says it is based on the date of arrival, along with the combo nest and favorite marker perching. But whoever it is, that osprey just completed an impressive journey of possibly 3500 miles from as far south as northern South America where the majority of northeast osprey migrate for the winter. He/she looked to be in pretty good health for such a remarkable trip! 🙂
And so now it is official, our osprey journey begins as we follow this season’s osprey from their arrival until they depart in the fall for another winter vacation in the tropics. I hope you enjoy their adventures that I capture and share. So stay tuned, and as always, thank you for stopping by!
A Variety of Birds This Week
What a busy week with that thing called life! But I tried to not let that stop me from finding a few minutes with my camera here and there on either my balcony or enroute to work, just finding time to sit still to compose was the difficult part. 😉 But I’m glad I kept snapping, I hope you enjoy what turned out to be a nice variety of birds for me this past week. 🙂
Eagles, both adult and immature, are very active in the skies now, it’s quite enjoyable! It’s easy to see one or two early in the morning at sunrise, soaring high in the sky. I even watched the two CBEC resident bald eagles chase away another pair that had ventured over from Kent Island. There wasn’t any aggressiveness, but the resident pair just continued to stay behind the other pair, forcing them back to their own territory, before turning around and head back to theirs. Here’s a shot of an immature eagle heading towards the sunset Monday evening.
Immature Bald Eagle
As previous posts, we continued to have rafts of migratory ducks hanging in the late afternoon/early evenings directly out behind our osprey nest, must be some darn good feeding out there!
Canvasbacks and Scaup
Canvasbacks flying in!
Canvasbacks
Canvasbacks
Scaup
A couple evenings we even had a raft of American coots. The second evening, the raft was huge, the largest I’d ever seen of coots.
American Coots
Each morning there is song in the air to announce that spring is here! The land birds are up and going about their business. It’s not so easy to catch them in the act of singing though, without getting a lot of blurriness. Got one!
Sparrow
Red-Winged Blackbird
American Robin
House Finches
Mourning Doves
Mourning Doves
Each morning, I also checked out the little marshy tidal pond by Lippincott Marina’s entrance next to our community’s entrance to see if the Great blue heron was still visiting that spot as I previously posted. He was there every morning. I stopped twice and the first time, I didn’t get but a couple photos before a truck passed him leaving the marina, scaring him into flight.
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
He was always positioned with his back to the sunrise. 🙂 But finally, I spotted him facing it and stopped. He was very cordial giving me several nice shots, before finally giving me a straight-on look to tell me to get on my way. I obliged!
Just pass that little tidal pond, there’s another marshy inlet a bit further down that I’ve stopped many times to photograph waterfowl. Tuesday morning a Great blue heron was there as well. He was actively fishing so I stopped. His turned his back to me before I was ready so I took only a few photos to leave him be. Thought this one was cute with his stance, focusing on a moving target, his head lit up by the rising sun.
Great Blue Heron
I can’t forget the mallards who still come to feed at the berm. Another bottoms-up shot, I like how their bright orange legs always give a nice contrast to their bodies.
Mallards - Dinner Date
I had to work yesterday but planned on stopping for anything that looked interesting in the sunlight. Sky sightings were abundant but not too much just hanging around in the trees. Finally came upon a turkey vulture that was just too perfect not to stop and photograph. He obliged, while preening his feathers.
Turkey Vulture
Another chance came with a hawk. He was busy searching the ground for movement and maybe breakfast!
With the warmer days/evenings, the sunsets haven’t been as spectacular as those cold winter ones. But I did like this one from March 3rd. A sunset can change so fast in just a matter of minutes. There are only 3 minutes difference between the two shots.
Sunset over Kent Island - March 3, 2012
Sunset over Kent Island - March 3, 2012
I’d taken several photos of the full moon this past week, but didn’t think any were as pretty than this morning’s partial moon before sunrise.
March 11, 2012 @ 6:14 am
And now onto the osprey! I am getting pretty darn excited on the anticipated arrival of our osprey, Oliver and Olivia. 🙂 Should be any day now to see our Olivia! Usually the female returns first, she retakes back her nest from the winter’s visitors and any other arrived osprey that are looking at hers for a new or first home. Then she will guard it and wait until her partner returns. Then the pair will work together to repair and rebuild their home. I had hoped Olivia would return today since I was around all day, but no sightings. 😦 But I’ve been reading reports that osprey sightings are occurring around the Chesapeake Bay; last week one was reported being seen in Easton, Maryland, just a hop, skip & jump from us!
I’m also excited to announce I’ve registered our Oyster Cove osprey nest to be a part of a program called Project OspreyWatch, through the Center for Conservation Biology in Williamsburg, Virgina. Here is an excerpt from their website….
The Center for Conservation Biology has launched Project OspreyWatch, a project created to engage a global community to collect data on breeding osprey. Linked by an interest in osprey and a concern for the health of the aquatic environments on which they rely, this community will for the first time provide a global perspective on this charismatic species. The mission of Project OspreyWatch is to bring citizen scientists together in order to collect information on a large enough spatial scale to be useful in addressing three of the most pressing issues facing aquatic ecosystems including global climate change, depletion of fish stocks, and environmental contaminants.
OspreyWatch is a user-friendly, internet platform that allows observers across the globe to map their nests, log observations, upload photos, and interact within an observer forum. Information entered into the platform will be immediately accessible to users and will be summarized following the breeding season. To join a growing community of global citizens, please visit http://www.osprey-watch.org and become an OspreyWatcher.
So if you have an osprey nest in your area that you regularly watch, think about joining this program and be a part of this research of a global community of osprey watchers. As of today, there are 324 registered watchers watching 443 osprey nests from around the world. Join today!
And with that I’ll end. I’m hoping my next post is a photo of Olivia so stay tuned!
Oliver and Olivia’s 2011 Season Photo Rewind
As promised, I finally finished a photo story rewind of Oyster Cove’s osprey pair, Oliver and Olivia, from last year’s season. With their impending arrival in the next couple weeks, I thought it would be refreshing to review Oliver and Olivia’s life of work, fun, thrills, and successes. In 2008 when we moved to Oyster Cove in Grasonville, Maryland, Oliver and Olivia were already an annual wonderment to our community. My third-floor balcony view gave me eye-popping sights, and I quickly & eagerly learned all about the osprey so I could understand Oliver and Olivia while enjoying them.
In July 2010, I was about to bust with the information I had witnessed and photos I had taken of Oliver and Olivia to date and in the past seasons. I was hanging up photos at our clubhouse and in the elevators, showing photos to everyone in the community who was interested in looking at them. A friend mentioned creating a blog would be an easier way to share my stories and photos of Oliver and Olivia to our community and maybe even to others who had an interest in the osprey.
And that’s how and why my blog was born.
Due to the length and ease to find at a later date, I created a separate page for Oliver and Olivia’s 2011 photo rewind. I really REALLY tried to select as few as possible from last year’s thousands that would showcase their life….boy it was hard. So if you’ve got 5+ minutes, grab a cup of coffee or drink, sit back, and click HERE or go to the sidebar and click the photo rewind under Pages. I hope you enjoy, and as always, thanks to every one of you for stopping by!
Oliver and Olivia, we are ready for your return to Oyster Cove!
Eagles, Tundra Swan, Ducks & More
After photographing the Eurasian wigeon last Sunday afternoon, I was curious to see if he and the group of American wigeons would still be in the marshy inlet by the Holiday Inn here in Kent Narrows the next morning. Alas, they weren’t, but I found a few tundra swans waking up with the lighting sky.
Tundra swans at sunrise
Five of the tundra swan decided to take flight into the morning skies….
Tundra swans in flight at sunrise
while the other tundra swans watched them, as if pondering if they should follow.
Tundra swans at sunrise
Tundra swans at sunrise
They decided to stay. With no time to hang around, I left them to their feeding while I continued on to work.
Tuesday morning just as I was leaving, I spotted I thought to be an eagle on Lippincott’s channel marker. My binoculars confirmed and I couldn’t leave without at least taking a few photos. The sun was just peaking over the horizon, which lit up the eagle’s beak as he turned towards my direction in the second photo.
Immature bald eagle on Lippincott's channel marker at sunrise
Immature bald eagle on Lippincott's channel marker at sunrise
As I finished the last shots, the eagle decided to take flight and came towards and past me just beyond our osprey nest and headed over to Kent Island. In these next photos, you’ll see he was an immature eagle, probably about 3 years old. He’s almost developed his trademark white head and tail.
Immature bald eagle
Immature bald eagle
Immature bald eagle
Immature bald eagle
I said my goodbyes and got on the road to work! As is the norm, I’m always seeing eagles and hawks along my way. With no traffic around me, I quickly stopped and captured this red-tailed hawk perched along Rt. 50, enjoying the sunrise as well.
Red-tailed hawk at sunrise
Red-tailed Hawk at sunrise
On my way home I still had that Eurasian wigeon on my mind, and as I rounded the ramp off Rt. 50 at the Holiday Inn, I spotted numerous waterfowl and pulled in as the sun was setting. The Eurasian wigeon was back, along with the American wigeons and tundra swan. Lighting was getting poor…
Eurasian wigeon and tundra swan
Eurasian wigeon and tundra swan
I never got a chance to return this week to see if he stayed around longer. Wednesday we had severe weather and heavy downpours mid-afternoon, as I arrived home they had passed, with a light rain still lingering. As I always do (Rick will confirm this!), I drop my belongings and go out onto our balcony to see what’s going on and breath in some of that great Chesapeake Bay air! As I was grabbing my camera, I almost tripped over my own feet when I glanced outside. An immature eagle was on our osprey nest in the light rain.
Immature bald eagle
Immature bald eagle
Immature bald eagle
Immature bald eagle
I took quite a few photos, some from inside my glass sliders so I wouldn’t scare him off. Shortly thereafter, he started to get antsy and took flight.
Immature bald eagle
Immature bald eagle
As I photographed him flying off, it was then I heard another eagle call out and turn to see an adult eagle come speeding in fast gear past me from CBEC/Marshy Creek area and go after the immature eagle. My first thought was it was possibly a parent who was going to interact/teach his young as they have been doing over at CBEC, but I quickly learned that this adult eagle was in combat mode as it repeatedly tried to attack the immature one.
Adult bald eagle speeding past to chase an immature bald eagle out of his territory
Adult bald eagle chasing an immature bald eagle out of his territory
Adult bald eagle chasing an immature bald eagle out of his territory
Adult eagle attacking an immature bald eagle
After that last photo, the adult bald eagle actually attacked the immature bald eagle and then continued to chase him as he tried to maneuver to get away. Satisfied with the distance the adult eagle chased the immature eagle, he turned around and came back past me and flew over to CBEC. I’m guessing it was a territorial skirmish. I will admit it was a pure treat to find that eagle on our osprey nest!
Thursday morning as I was leaving, I found a squirrel on the sidewalk. Now every time I go to grab my camera to photograph a squirrel, I’ll turn and he will be gone! So this time I just stood still and watched him until he went up a pine tree and settled on a branch. Then I grabbed my camera from my bag and got a few shots while he munched on an acorn. Not the greatest shots but THIS time I was successful in at least getting him!
This robin was singing in a tree across from the squirrel.
American Robin
As I drove out of our community’s entrance and passed Lippincott’s side-by-side entrance, I caught sight of a Great blue heron wading in their small marshy area.
Great Blue Heron at sunrise
Great Blue Heron at sunrise
Oh boy, now I’m really running late into work! Told myself no more stopping, but while enroute I thought I sighted an eagle perched ahead of me. As I was stopping (got to for an eagle not flying!), I realized it was a turkey vulture. They are one bird that doesn’t easily scare so I gave him a small photo ops session. 🙂 Not the prettiest of birds but he is one!
Turkey Vulture
Friday ended well when I got home, our ‘backyard’ was full with several rafts of scaup and canvasback feeding. They are fun to watch as they dive and then bunch back together for safety.
Canvasbacks and Scaups rafting together
Scaups
Scaups
Canvasbacks
Canvasbacks
All in all, a great week for bird captures for me. I hope you enjoyed, and as always, thanks for stopping by!
Coots, Swans, Blue Heron, Wigeons, and More
While I was writing my last post Friday evening, we were experiencing high winds, at times gusting WSW in the 40-50 mph range. Our windows rattled all night long! Saturday brought sunny skies but the winds with high gusts continued. One to two-foot waves blew across the Kent Narrows Channel at us from Kent Island.
Oyster Cove Community Osprey Nest Platform
Flying was difficult for all Saturday. A flock of Canada geese were struggling, with a small group blown away from the larger group, crossing right over my head.
Canada Geese
Even the gulls and eagles were having it a bit rough, but they at least seemed to enjoy it.
Herring Gull
Bald Eagle
For some, it was easier to hang in the water. There was a raft of canvasbacks beyond our osprey nest struggling to stay together and face into the winds……
Canvasback
as well as a raft of American coots who had returned from the day before. They really rode the waves!
American Coots
American Coots
American Coots
By this morning the winds had diminished and gave us a beautiful partly cloudy day. However, the high winds had caused much of the Chesapeake Bay’s and its tributaries waters to be blown out to sea, resulting in another extreme low tide, up to 3 feet below normal MLW (mean low water) at approximately 2:41 pm. We had another ‘day at the beach’ at low tide! This shot is at 4:27 pm, almost two hours later when I had returned home from work.
A few Canadian geese and mallards were enjoying the beach.
Canada Geese
In addition, a Great blue heron was busy strutting across the sand, trying to get away from someone out for their own stroll along the walk-way. He eventually decided it was best to take flight and go over to the point where he could be alone.
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
As I had mentioned, I had to work today, so I had been anxious to get out mid-afternoon and return home to see that low tide and to check out another marshy area just around the corner from me behind the Holiday Inn. Friday afternoon I had sighted a few tundra swans there but wasn’t able to stop to grab some shots. Today, I could see them again along with some geese and got hubby to stop. 🙂 It was so worth it!!
As we pulled up at the end Holiday Inn’s parking lot, there were already three photographers set up with tripods, cameras, and binoculars! As I walked up with my camera, they were busy chatting and immediately started telling me their excitement, an Eurasian Wigeon was among the group of waterfowl, a rare sighting for our area. Here are my shots of him and the other species that were together. I sure wish I had my tripod with me today for a steadier hand….
Eurasian Wigeon & Gadwells
Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeons & Gadwells
Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeons & Gadwells
Male and Female Gadwells
The large tundra swan and Canadian geese were very cordial with each other and the other species, as they all fed on the bottom. All of us photographers were well back behind tall marshy grass and they seemed oblivious to us.
American Wigeons, Gadwells & Tundra Swan
Canada Geese & Tundra Swans
Tundra Swans and Gadwells
Tundra Swans, American Wigeon & Gadwells
Canada Geese, American Wigeons, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwells & Gulls
Tundra Swans, American Wigeons & Gadwells
I couldn’t have had any nicer set-ups to a wonderful two days of photo ops when I had such limited time this weekend. What they say is true, it is being at the right place at the right time. Thanks for stopping by and allowing me to share my photos with you!
Time For Seasons To Change – We Are Ready!
It was a nice past week with some feather friends keeping our community’s backyard and skies still active as migrations continue back north and our seasons change from winter to spring. Which I think we are ALL ready for! Think Osprey!!
Our visitors were the same and as usual, with the gulls taking their turns perching on our osprey nest. I watched this next fella go through a stretching session, it was a bit comical. Here’s his best stretch!
Ring-Billed Gull
From another day, this next one was down below me on a light along our walking path. We watched each other.
Ring-Billed Gull
Ring-Billed Gull
And a final shot of another gull on yet another day on the rocks below our osprey nest, reflecting in the waters.
The Canada geese still stay most evenings up in Marshy Creek and head out in the morning to venture off for the day, maybe to return back that evening or not, as the migration flocks are on the move. Here’s two different mornings as they moved on out….
Canada Geese
Canada Geese
Other bird activity is constant in the skies if you can take the time to watch and listen. Three times I watched with binoculars 2 adult and 2 juvenile eagles flying around or perching in the trees over at CBEC. Not close enough for any great photographs, but a joy to watch. And while watching them or the skies in general, I tried to capture the next few birds that passed on by a bit closer to me. A Great blue heron….
Great Blue Heron
a turkey vulture….we have a few of them on occasion….
Turkey Vulture
and tundra swans who are also abundant along the banks of Kent Island and CBEC for the evenings/mornings.
Tundra Swan
Tundra Swan
And of course, we have the mallards. They feel safe here and do get some great feedings, so it is real unusual to not have at least a pair around.
Male and Female Mallards
Male Mallard
One day at low tide, we had a group of eight mallards feeding with bottoms up. Almost got all eight in one shot!
1 Male & 3 Female Mallards - Bottoms Up!
2 Male & 4 Female Mallards - Bottoms Up!
The mallards are in full swing on mating. Got some before/beginning shots and then the end male strut & victory lap.
Male and Female Mallard Mating
Male and Female Mallard Mating
Male and Female Mallard Mating
Male and Female Mallard Mating
Male and Female Mallard Mating
Mallard Mating Complete - Male Struts
Mallard Mating Complete - Male Circles Female in Victory Lap
Mallard Mating Complete - Male Circles Female in Victory Lap
The biggest treat for me this past week was coming home and finding a raft of American coots out on Marshy Creek. We haven’t had these ducks visit this winter as they have in the past. As I captured some shots, the raft started heading towards me, so perfect!
American Coots
After a few photos, the coots about-faced and went back towards more of the center of Marshy Creek and mixed in with a small group of scaup, diving and feeding together as the sun set.
American Coots and Scaup
I heard this little guy below me on the ground one late afternoon, then I found him, he blended in really well with the grass. I think it is an American tree sparrow, please correct me if I am wrong! I’m really green on identifying ‘land’ birds but I’m attempting to learn and expand my bird ID knowledge. 🙂
American Tree Sparrow?
We had a few beautiful sunrises and sunsets, I enjoyed most enroute to/from work. On February 17th, I made it home in time but the sunset wasn’t so spectacular in a wide angle shot; however it became a soft orange sunset with my telephoto lens.
Sunset - February 17, 2012
Made it home again last night in time and captured this awesome cloud-filled sunset.
Sunset - February 23, 2012
I’ve been working on my Oliver & Olivia 2011 review to post, looking them over really has me excited on their soon arrival. There has already been a confirmed osprey sighting in the Williamsburg, Virginia vicinity! Cool!
Thanks for stopping!
A Great Bird-Op Day
With all the bald eagle sightings to and from work the last several weeks, and the previous day a field of snow geese, Tuesday morning I got on the road early to give me ‘stopping time’ in hopes of some of the same sightings. 🙂
Getting in my car, several house finches were singing beautifully in the parking lot. I spotted the closest one and took a few shots in the early morning light. His beautiful song deserved his photo posting!
House Finch
No, that is not snow in the next photo! Unbelievably, after the past weekend freeze, we are back in the 50’s. And as I had hoped, the same farm field along Rt 301 about 20 minutes from home was filled with snow geese. Monday, there wasn’t as many on the field, most were in the air at a distance, coming in. Tuesday morning, my wide angle lens could not get in the width of their presence and it wasn’t so great showing the depth they were. Even from my distance their honking chatter was awesome!
Field of Snow Geese
Deer herds can be seen most mornings and evenings in open fields, and unfortunately there is always a perished one from a vehicle strike along the road here and there along Rt 301. I came upon one along the road which was being enjoyed by a bald eagle. He didn’t even pay any attention as I pulled over and took a few shots. Darn….unfocused….I got too excited…and not worthy of posting. There wasn’t much traffic except an occasional car or tractor trailer, which of course one of the big loud ones now had to go by. I refocused just in time as the eagle turned to look to mine and the truck’s direction.
Bald Eagle
Then another tractor trailer goes by, where are they coming from and why now?? That was both mine and the eagle’s thoughts! LOL And so, of course, the eagle took flight….
Bald Eagle
and landed several hundred feet further into the farm field. He was definitely staying close to keep an eye on his meal. I took only a couple more shots, said goodbye & thanks, giving him back his space. Back on the road to work I went.
Bald Eagle
In the fall/winter, hawks can easily be seen perched along Rt 301 almost daily. I’ve tried many times to capture shots but they are very skittish and will take flight while you’re trying to pull over just to get stopped. And that’s from across a dual highway with a wide grass center inbetween. I’ve seen so many lately, I decided Tuesday I was going to try again if I came across one at a good angle. Not 10 minutes after leaving the eagle, I spotted the next red-tailed hawk perched across the highway up in the trees. He was busy moving around and then sat up & looked directly at me, maybe to flash a smile? Or to see who’s watching him! Sorry, poor focus.
Red-Tailed Hawk
He started to move around again and I thought he was surely going to take off, but then watched and photographed him as he worked on breaking off a small branch from the tree.
Red-Tailed Hawk
With success, he took flight swiftly with his branch I’m sure to head back to his nest.
Red-Tailed Hawk
I wasn’t sure if he was passing the branch from his beak to his claws and/or it was an accidental drop, but I got this shot before the branch fell from his clutch. Again, my excitement and his quickness lost the focus….but I still wanted to share the ‘action’ of these two shots.
Red-Tailed Hawk
The red-tailed hawk didn’t give that branch a second thought, just went straight to another tree and perched. He kept his back to me for several shots, and I told him I’d leave him alone and be on my way. (Does any other wildlife photographers ‘talk’ to their ops?? Or am I crazy, LOL) Well, he must have heard me, he turned and gave me the next look. I took three photos, told him bye/thanks, and drove off.
Red-Tailed Hawk
Arriving to work, I thought what a great drive in! I couldn’t wait for the drive home AND to download the day’s photos.
When it was time to leave, the sun was setting really bright. There’s a man-made pond just before I get back on Rt 301 where there’s an occasional mallard or two. For the past week or so, I’ve spotted a pair of buffleheads in that pond. It’s been the first time I’d seen them there and so close to active civilization (the pond is beyond a Walmart). I couldn’t get the pair together, the female was more behind some marshy grasses but I captured the male in the sun.
Male Bufflehead
Joining the buffleheads were those mallards.
Male Bufflehead, Male & Female Mallards
Mallards & Bufflehead - BOTTOMS UP!
Meanwhile, off to the left of the pond up on a mound of dirt where other construction will soon be in the works, a small flock of Canadian geese were resting, with their ‘looker’ doing just that, looking for intruders and enemies. You can see some of the geese napping while standing on one foot. Now that’s balance!
Canadian Geese
Three ventured down the hill, grazing the grass while I was photographing them and the pond ducks.
Canadian Geese
One goose finally decided he needed a drink and swim. He then turned back to the group and honked a few times The sun was setting quickly so I opted to get back on the road. As I was leaving, I saw the rest were waking and starting their way to the water. I wondered just what that goose said to them….”hey fellas the water feels great”!
Canadian Goose, Mallards, Bufflehead
The next 45 minutes ride to home, not a bird to photograph. That was okay, I was tickled at my day’s sightings already! As I was approaching our community’s entrance, I did a quick check on a small protected inlet along our community that runs up to Rt 18 where I’ve seen a blue heron quite often in the late afternoon. He was there. 🙂 I got pulled over safely a bit past where he was and walked back slowly to not scare him. He hardly moved, I took a few shots, and went home.
Great Blue Heron
When I got home, I thought can there be any backyard visitors? Just a few mallards. The incoming winds and waves were not favorable for any visitors. That was ok, I was most content with my great bird-op day!
Finally, a quick share, when I was downloading my photos, I found the shots I forgot I took of our half moon before sunrise Monday morning. Here’s one of those shots. Pretty cool to see the craters. Pretty amazing how BIG those craters/mountain ranges really are!
I hope you enjoyed my drive in to and from work. And a big THANKS to all of you for visiting and following my blog. I really REALLY appreciate it and feel honored!
P.S. I am an amateur at bird identification. If I ever misname any bird, PLEASE let me know!!
Sunday at the Beach!
First, Happy Heart Day! Hope everyone has a wonderful day. To commemorate, here’s a repeat Great Egret photo I took at Chincoteague NWR during my day trip mid-January, now a favorite of mine! The ‘heart’ that appears at his neck is untouched….
And now onto Sunday at the ‘beach’! As most of the northeast United States experienced, a frigid mass of cold air dropped in from Canada and some even a pile of snow swept through this past Saturday. Our area received snow flurries but it melted quickly; however, the winds and cold temps got most of us. Sunday was a beautiful, partly cloudy day; but if you stepped outside, the temps with the windchill factor were in the teens. I opted to stay home and do the household thing. Of course, with an eye out the windows for any visiting feathered-friends.
The north/northwest winds effected our tides, blowing out and away a substantial amount of water. Usually at low tide, the water depth is low to mid-way at our rock berm, usually no more than 1.5 feet lower than high tide. At 9:00 a.m., I took a photo of the cove that I refer to often that is to the right of our osprey nest and me, thinking that’s one low tide! The white lines were ice that had formed as the tide receded.
I glanced at our tide clock and it said it had just come off HIGH tide less than an hour prior. Whoa, I thought! The next photo was taken at low tide around 3:30 p.m.
The sun had melted most of the ice by that time. And so this became Sunday at the beach! Now back to the morning as the high tide was receding, the gulls were having a hey-day with all the sand to pick at.
The mallards were soon flying in and joining. Got this nice shot of a male mallard. Catch them just right and they look as if they are smiling for the camera. 🙂
Okay, I was really trying to clean/do laundry but I took another break few hours later to see what the gulls and mallards were up to and glancing up I saw two eagles soaring over the cove. Grabbed the camera and took the next shot through my picture window, had no time to make it outside to my balcony!
I thought, darn it, if I had just ‘breaked’ sooner, I might have gotten some nice shots of them. Flying further away from me, I watched them with binoculars as they headed over to Kent Island.
By now I was more intrigued with outside than inside, as it was obviously more fun! LOL I grabbed my coat & headed out onto the balcony to set up my camera & tripod and almost tripped from excitement as a flock of Canadian geese flew directly in front of me, dropping down into our cove.
On the edge of their flock, closer to me, a Great Blue Heron passed on by as well. Unfortunately, the sun’s position was behind him…. 😦
The blue heron then dropped down over the sunlit water. Most may not like the next shot, but I thought it was kinda neat. It is untouched except for cropping.
Passing over the Canadian geese that had just landed, he gave them a bit of a fright.
The blue heron continued over to the point and landed to his own private beach. With the shots not being so great, I can’t confirm it was Blake our blue heron who had been visiting us for 22 weeks, but this one landed right where Blake always did. So maybe!
As the blue heron fished along the water, the Canadian geese settled with the mallards not to far from him.
Ten minutes later, our dedicated neighbor tossed out feed for all who dared to come get it on the beach.
Immediately, two geese made their way to the feed. The first one slowly went on the beach while the second ‘looker’ kept his eye out.
The rest held back for a good five minutes before deciding it was safe. And then it became chow time!
You know the saying about getting ‘goosed’? A couple fellas were doing just that to the others who were trying to get out of their way, they had me laughing.
Once their bellies were content, the geese spent the rest of the afternoon resting and napping on the beach….
Including those that didn’t take any chances coming in. It’s hard to see, but the blue heron is still on the beach in the top left corner.
Meanwhile, out just past our osprey nest, a raft of canvasbacks, ruddy ducks, and scaup were feeding along the water’s bottom.
As the sun began to set, the geese swam their way back past me and into Marshy Creek to spend their night.
I started photographing the sun setting and was fully expecting the clouds to light up with colors…..but it fizzled out. But this shot of the last of the peaking sun still ended a great day of my birdwatching!
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed!
