Eastern Neck NWR – Ducks In Flight
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In my last post, my photos shared the Canada Geese and ducks at peace, resting on the ice at the causeway at Eastern Neck NWR’s bridge when I arrived early that morning. The temps were in the low 20’s, but who knew! I was too busy happily photographing away at all those ducks.
Suddenly, all those ducks began to chatter. Loud. They were instantly on their feet and standing at alert attention.
I was sure I knew why and looked up. Yep, it was one of the refuge’s kings of the sky. Circling. Looking down at the icy waters full of ducks. 😳
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Bald Eagle
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Bald Eagle
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Nervousness caused some of the Mallards, Northern Pintails, and American Black Ducks to take flight.
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That movement and instinct caused more and more ducks to follow.
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Mallards, Northern Pintails, American Black Duck and Canada Goose in flight
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Soon most all the ducks were in the air, leaving the Canada Geese back to their peace and quiet.
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Only a couple of ducks left!
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The Eagle did a final lap and then resumed it’s flight, heading east.
I don’t know if I was relieved for the ducks, or disappointed as a bird photographer who loves capturing action behavior. (Honestly, both!)
Now, some close-ups of those ducks in flight!
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Mallards, Northern Pintails in flight
Mallards, American Black Ducks and Canada Geese in the water and ice
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A lone pair of Canada Geese got into the flight action.
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Canada Geese pair taking flight with Mallards, Northern Pintails, American Black Duck
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Northern Pintails, Mallards
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I got a surprise when seeing Northern Shovelers suddenly in the mix. Not sure where they were, I don’t see any of them in any my big view photos. They might have been just around the cove corner in the marsh grass.
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Northern Shovelers, American Black Ducks, Mallards
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All the ducks were taking flight east into the winds. They would then bank a left and all head west towards the Chesapeake Bay.
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Mallards
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Northern Pintails
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American Black Ducks, Northern Shovelers, Mallards
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And there they all go, in the big view, out to the Chesapeake Bay!
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I jumped back into my car to warm up and started my adventure further in to the refuge. What other birds did I encounter this visit? Eagles, of course! Stay tuned…..
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Eastern Neck NWR – Swans, Geese & Ducks
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If you caught my last post on my frozen vast views shared at Eastern Neck NWR, you saw I hit the jackpot with the number of Tundra Swans, Canada Geese, and several species of ducks.
Here are some of my favorites of a closer look at some of them.
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Tundra Swans
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Buffleheads
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Northern Pintails, Mallards, Canada Geese, Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Gull (immature), American Black Duck
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Hooded Mergansers
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Hooded Mergansers
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Tundra Swans
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Tundra Swans
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Mallard on left announces, “It’s Party Time!”
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Tundra Swans
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Ruddy Duck (female)
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Long-tailed Duck (male)
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Long-tailed Duck (male)
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Long-tailed Duck (male) and Ruddy Duck (female)
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More to come from that morning visit at the refuge….. 🙂
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Eastern Neck NWR – Winter Scenes
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I visited Eastern Neck NWR on February 1st, after we had received 4-5 inches of snow 2-3 days prior.
These photos share some of the big winter views.
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Bald Eagles (adult and immature)
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Tubby Cove Boardwalk
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Canada Geese, Northern Pintails, Mallards
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Tundra Swans, American Black Ducks
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Tundra Swans, Canada Geese, American Black Ducks, Mallards
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Distant unfrozen waters is the Chesapeake Bay before Maryland’s western shore.
Continuing the above photo to the right with this next one. It sure was a long line of geese, swans, and ducks!
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Always a good spot to find a Great Blue Heron….but not today
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There s/he is, puffed up & chillin’ at low tide down the road – Great Blue Heron
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Ducks in flight – Mallards, Northern Pintails, American Black Duck
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Shifting ice in shifting tides
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In my next post, I’ll share some close-ups of the birds I photographed. Oh, those ducks!
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1-2-3 Birds and Berries – #3
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I’m enjoying this challenge of pulling together three more recent bird photos that include any berries or seeds in their mouth or surroundings (as are these).
My first photo is also for fun! The Blue Jays are the ninjas of my trees, not wanting to be seen.
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Blue Jay
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Dark-eyed Junco
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Yellow-rumped Warbler
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Five On The Wing – #25
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Another of my series of five birds ‘on the wing’ to their next destination!
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American Robin
Wingspan 12.2-15.8 inches (31-40 cm)
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Eastern Meadowlark
Wingspan: 13.8-15.8 inches (35-40 cm)
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Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted male)
Wingspan 16.5-20.1 inches (42-51 cm)
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Red-bellied Woodpecker (female)
Wingspan 13.0-16.5 inches (33-42 cm)
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Blue Jay
Wingspan 13.4-16.9 inches (34-43 cm)
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1-2-3 Medium Bird Jubilee – #5
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These three medium-sized birds also had to adapt rather quickly to our recent snowfall and below freezing temps!
Because it was an odd sighting for my deck as well as an adorable shot, I took the first photo of a female Red-winged Blackbird through my window right after the snow had stopped. She seemed tired/misplaced and hung out in the corner for a long time through the winds while Juncos and House Finches flitted about. She later flew to a tree and stayed there for a while longer. I finally noticed she was gone, and hoped she was okay.
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Red-winged Blackbird (female) puffed up for warmth
Length 6.7-9.1 inches (17-23 cm)
Weight 1.1-2.7 oz (32-77 g)
Wingspan 12.2-15.8 inches (31-40 cm)
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European Starling also puffed up for warmth
Length 7.9-9.1 inches (20-23 cm)
Weight 2.1-3.4 oz (60-96 g)
Wingspan 12.2-15.8 inches (31-40 cm)
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Red-bellied Woodpecker (female) busy foraging
Length 9.4 inches (24 cm)
Weight 2.0-3.2 oz (56-91 g)
Wingspan 13.0-16.5 inches (33-42 cm)
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1-2-3 Cute As Can Be – #12
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These three adorable birds are not only all sparrows, they also include the bonus theme of snow that we just received from the nor-easter.
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House Sparrow (female) with a seed
Length 5.9-6.7 in (15-17 cm)
Weight 0.9-1.1 oz (27-30 g)
Wingspan 7.5-9.8 in (19-25 cm)
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Dark-eyed Junco
Length 5.5-6.3 in (14-16 cm)
Weight 0.6-1.1 oz (18-30 g)
Wingspan 7.1-9.8 in (18-25 cm)
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White-throated Sparrow
Length 6.3-7.1 in (16-18 cm)
Weight 0.8-1.1 oz (22-32 g)
Wingspan 7.9-9.1 in (20-23 cm)
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One more bonus! The White-throated Sparrow did a cute puff-up to help stay warm as it rested. Look how big s/he gets!
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White-throated Sparrow puffed up for the cold
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Bald Eagles at Eastern Neck NWR
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It is time to delight with a series of our majestic Bald Eagles! These were all taken in January at Eastern Neck NWR.
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Bald Eagle habitat (shot with my wide angle lens)
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Same Bald Eagle (shot with my zoom lens)
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Bald Eagle
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Bald Eagle (immature)
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Bald Eagle
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Bald Eagles
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Bald Eagles
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Bald Eagle
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Bald Eagle (immature)
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Great Blue Heron
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Couple weeks ago I visited Eastern Neck NWR for two cold hours. A little snow was still around, and some of the water around the causeway and coves was frozen.
One of my first sightings was a Great Blue Heron fishing the low tide where it was still liquid and the wind was creating little waves.
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Great Blue Heron fishing
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Breezy, cold conditions didn’t faze the Great Blue Heron
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I moved on to leave the heron be, wishing him fishing success.
When leaving the refuge a couple hours later, I found the Great Blue Heron still fishing in the same cove; so I stopped to watch again. It was closer to the road now, and moving my direction.
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Great Blue Heron
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The skies had lighten up since I first arrived, with the sun peeking through here and there. The Great Blue Heron obliged me a nice profile during one of those sunny peeks.
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Great Blue Heron
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That look said I needed to leave. And I did. 🙂
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Five On The Wire – #7
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Five more birds chillin’ on a wire. Or at least metal. 🙂
The first two photos I discovered mulling through more of my “birds that need IDing” folder. I found these two birds on a wire during a same shoot, had to work on IDing for this series, ha! 😏 I have quite a few angle shots of each of these and others (there seemed to be a family?). I believe I’ve made positive ID on them, sharing my best shot of each one.
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Eastern Wood-Pewee #1
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If I’ve incorrectly identified either of these two as Eastern Wood-Pewees, please let me know! (Both seen same day, same fence, September 2021 in Maryland.)
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Eastern Wood-Pewee #2
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These next three are those ‘metals’ I referred to in the beginning, counting as wire, ha! The birds are too irresistible when perched so pretty on top of my feeders’ shepherd hooks. Their blue background is shaded snow, all taken couple weeks ago.
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House Finch (male)
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Blue Jay
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Bay Photos by Donna 