Snowy Egret Having A Bad Hair Day
An early morning walk this past week along a berm of rocks, and this unexpectedly popped up before me!
Snowy Egret’s Bad Hair Day
As the Snowy Egret managed its wiggly snack, I stepped forward to hopefully get some of those rocks out of the frame.
Snowy Egret managing its wiggly snack in the wind
Oops! Now the Snowy Egret sees me and quickly stands tall on alert.
I quickly looked away and stood still, waited a bit, and then looked back out the corner of my eye. The egret was still there but had turned the other direction, no longer concerned with me.
There were more important things on its mind…..like washing that tasty snack!
Snowy Egret with crustacean
Snowy Egret washing its snack
Now its ready to eat!
Snowy Egret dipping/washing its crustacean meal in the water
No more photos to share in this series, which means…..no, I did not get the gulp! Argh!! 😉
Killdeers and a Nest
For the past couple weeks, I’ve been watching a pair of Killdeer.
Killdeer
Killdeer
It took a few days before I walked into a specific area and suddenly had one of the Killdeers screaming at me, bobbing and running, then putting on their broken-wing display. This is the Killdeer’s defense distraction, to feign injury to lure a predator’s attention to them and away from their nest.
Killdeer’s ‘fake injury’ defense
Killdeer’s ‘fake injury’ defense
Killdeer feigning injury to draw my attention
Killdeer use a scrape on the ground for their nest, sometimes in gravel.
I scanned the gravel along the shed nearby.
Do you see the nest and eggs?
(dead center)
Killdeer Eggs
While one incubates…..
Killdeer incubating eggs
Killdeer incubating eggs
Killdeer incubating eggs
the mate stays nearby, foraging and guarding their territory.
Killdeer foraging
Killdeer in flight
Killdeer foraging
Killdeer
Killdeer eggs hatch in 22-28 days. I am hoping to see and share little ones before they vacate the nest after birth. They look like cotton balls on stilts!
A Nautical Twist
A little twist to my normal photos.
These three nautical visions caught my eye back in March….
“Anchor”
“Furled Sail”
“Sailboat Mast & Line Reflections”
Wood Stork Gallery
While observing the Wood Stork, English naturalist Richard Bradley (1688?–1732) noted, “Their faces look like an old country man that’s had too much sun and is much in need of a facelift.”
This past winter, high on my Florida photo-op wish list was the uniquely gorgeous Wood Stork.
Here are more of my favorite captures to share their beauty!
Wood Stork 01 reflection
Wood Stork 02 taking off
Wood Stork 03 habitat
Wood Stork 04
Wood Stork 05 preening
Wood Stork 06 landing
Wood Stork 07
Wood Stork 08
Wood Stork 09
Wood Stork 10
Wood Stork 11
Wood Stork 12 reflection
Wood Storks
Palm Warblers
Palm Warblers are making their way north in their Spring migration to their breeding grounds in the upper Great Lakes, Maine, and Canada.
Here’s some of my sightings.
Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Palm Warblers
Watch for yours enroute through or for arrival!
Momma Robin and Her Baby
Even though her baby is now flying, this Momma Robin continues to care for it.
American Robin “Momma”
American Robin Fledgling “Momma’s Baby”
Happy Mother’s Day!
Spring Birds in Maryland
Week and a half ago, we finally made it back home to Maryland, and we’re catching up on life.
Here’s some of my recent Spring birds just outside my door….
Northern Cardinal (male)
Brown-headed Cowbird (male)
Brown-headed Cowbird (female)
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow who would not step out of the shadow!
Chipping Sparrow
