Osprey, Osprey Everywhere
“It’s the ultimate harbinger of spring on the Chesapeake Bay; the chirping call of Ospreys, returning to their nests from winter vacations in Central and South America.”
It is exciting to see the Osprey busily bonding, building nests, and some are already incubating! I’m already accumulating lots of photos while out and about birding locally, here’s a few to start the season.
Above is my neighbor’s nest a few weeks ago.
Six days ago I noted incubation had started…..we’ve got at least one egg!
Life got real busy past couple weeks, whew! Too much Next I am I’m excited to share from a “field trip” for an eight-week warbler course I’m taking to better my warbler IDing skills. The course is called, “Oh Wow, Warblers!” and the day did not disappoint!
That course title is going to be perfect for my next post….. 😉
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Horned Grebes
Horned Grebes are showing up around the Chesapeake Bay as they migrate through from the southeastern U.S. to the upper northeast U.S. and Canada for their summer breeding. They are in the beginnings of their lovely breeding plumage.
I love their red eyes….
the golden yellow tufts (“horns”) behind the eyes….
and the white tip on their little beak!
For comparison, the next photo shows a Horned Grebe in it’s mid-winter drab.
Horned Grebe (non-breeding plumage)
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Pine Warbler Express
The first of our early warblers have been passing through our area for the past couple weeks. The delightful Pine Warbler!
Seeing and hearing this beauty during those first early Spring walks will surely make you smile!
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Backyard Traffic – Fox Trot
It is always a treat to watch the different types of wildlife that pass through our backyard, as they follow our strip of woods with the marsh directly behind it.
Yesterday, it was this beautiful red fox.
All the way across the backyard, to pass through on my cleared path to the marsh and cornfield.
My path is very popular. 😉
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Woodpecker Wednesday
Another post sharing five woodpeckers that stayed around me all winter. Here’s my best pick of each from the past several weeks.
Downy Woodpecker (male)
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Hairy Woodpecker (male)
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Northern Flicker, Yellow-shafted (female)
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Red-bellied Woodpecker (female)
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Pileated Woodpecker (female)
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House Finch Color Variations
Male House Finches sport their bright red breeding plumage in the Spring from the carotenoid rich foods they eat. The more they eat, the redder they become.
On occasion you’ll see a male whose diet wasn’t so rich with carotenoids, so his coloring will be yellow to orange.
I have one of those handsome fellas in my backyard now. 😊
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Wading Birds – #3
Yesterday early morning, I went for a birding/nature walk in my backyard and beyond; and I found to my delight a pair of Great Egrets foraging in the marsh pond, my first sighting for the year!
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Spring’s Red White & Blue
Blue Jay
I couldn’t decide which crop I liked best, so I shared both.
Which one would you pick? The first one, or the second?
Happy Spring! ❤️🤍💙
Duck Duck Goose – #4
Let’s play another round! Today’s ‘game’ is from the past several weeks, I had to work harder for these!
Ready? 😉
Duck…..
Long-tailed Duck (male)
Duck…..
Long-Tailed Duck (female)
Duck…..
Buffleheads (female & male)
GOOSE!
Snow Goose
Duck…..
Red-breasted Merganser (female)
Duck…..
Hooded Merganser (male)
Duck…..
Ruddy Ducks
GOOSE!
Canada Geese
Duck…..
Surf Scoters (male & female)
Duck…..
Black Scoter (immature male)
Duck…..
Redheads (males)
Duck…..
Lesser Scaup (female & male)
GOOSE!
Greater White-fronted Goose
Thanks for playing along! 😁
Duck Duck Goose – #3
Today’s ‘game’ is from last month’s visit to at a winter waterfowl ‘hot-spot’ for photographers in downtown Cambridge on the Choptank River.
Ready? Let’s play! 😉
Duck….
Canvasback (male)
Duck…..
Canvasback (female)
Duck…..
Canvasback (male)
Duck…..
American Wigeon (male)
Duck…..
American Wigeon (female)
Duck…..
Lesser Scaup (male)
GOOSE!
Canada Goose
Here’s the big scene that day. It’s a head-spinning sight!
Stand at a street-wide concrete blockade and view/photograph to your heart’s content!
(two others taking in the view)
Just pick and aim!
Bay Photos by Donna 