Incoming Canada Geese
Our skies and waters are beginning to show the early arrivals of the thousands of migrating Canada Geese that will come to spend the fall and winter on Maryland’s Eastern Shore farms and marshes.
Canada Geese
Did you know?
Canada Geese pair up and mate for life. That’s goose commitment!
Cambridge Creek Turtles
Two turtles that co-habitat together in Cambridge Creek. As the season begins to change, they will both bury deep in the mud to hibernate and reappear in the Spring.
Diamondback Terrapin
Diamondback Terrapin
Diamondback Terrapin
Diamondback Terrapin
Diamondback Terrapins
Snapping Turtle
Snapping Turtle
Snapping Turtle “Curious Big Boy”
And the turtles, of course…
All the turtles are FREE
As turtles and, maybe,
ALL creatures should be.
— Dr Seuss
A Cormorant & The Fish That Almost Got Away – Action Sequence
Cormorants have an impressive fishing technique of diving and chasing fish underwater using their powerful webbed feet and awesome underwater vision.
Once they hook a fish with their beak, the Cormorant returns to the surface to toss and swallow it.
After this Cormorant resurfaced with its catch, it missed the toss! The fish tried desperately to get away; but the Cormorant was too quick to let that happen.
(click on the first photo to run through the action!)
A Cormorant surfaces with a fish.
Time for the toss to swallow…
Oops! The Cormorant misses and the fish gets away!
There’s the fish, where’s the Cormorant?
Ah-ha! The Cormorant resurfaces with the fish but should he try tossing it again?.
“Hmmmm….you’re a slippery one…”
Cormorant contemplating his next move…..
….and decides no tossing this time…..
GULP!!
Double-crested Cormorant working hard for its meal
One Perch – Two Hours – Three Big Birds
My last post featured a Bald Eagle captured in flight as it went up and down Cambridge Creek.
There was more to the story…. 😉
It’s possible mate was on the Osprey nest platform. (Oh, Osprey Bella would be so upset if she knew!)
Bald Eagle
Because there was no fighting or aggression between the two Eagles over the fish meal, I suspected they were mates.
Bald Eagle with a fish
The Eagle in flight did leave the area after flying past me, leaving this Eagle to finish its meal.
Eagle cleaning its beak alongside the wood.
Eagle cleaning its beak alongside the wood.
Eagle cleaning its beak alongside the wood.
After the meal was gone, the Bald Eagle cleaned its beak alongside the wood
Did you notice the leg band above? I discovered it when I downloaded my photos! I unfortunately could not make out any numbers or letters.
Finally, a great Eagle profile when the sun shined.
Bald Eagle showing off its leg band
I checked a half hour later to see if the Eagle was still on the platform. It was gone.
But look what I found in its place.
Great Blue Heron
Well, that was a pleasant surprise!
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron was just hanging out in the breezy conditions. Nice! I watched it off and on for a few minutes.
Great Blue Heron “one-legging it”
Less than a half hour later, I did a quick look; the Great Blue Heron was gone.
Oh, but now look what I found perched!
Turkey Vulture
While the Eagle was eating its fish, there was a Turkey Vulture soaring overhead, I’m sure keeping an eye on the platform and any possible leftovers.
But then that Great Blue Heron showed up after the Eagle departed.
Finally, with the Great Blue Heron gone, the Turkey Vulture could land and clean up the platform.
Turkey Vulture eating the remains of the fish
Turkey Vulture
This two-hour experience has me back to glancing at the platform more often, who knows what I might see on it next time!
An Eagle In Flight
A few days ago, my husband shouted, “Eagle!” I was out the slider door and onto the balcony with my camera in-hand lickity split! 😉
I spotted the Bald Eagle flying down Cambridge Creek, make a U-turn, and head back my direction. As it closed in, the Eagle then turned again and flew directly in front of me.
Bald Eagle
(no crop, only ‘sized’ for this post)
Bald Eagle
(since I caught him at the bottom of my frame, I cropped this shot)
I will never tire of the majestic Bald Eagle making a surprise appearance!
Lesser Yellowlegs
A Lesser Yellowlegs striking the perfect pose.
Lesser Yellowlegs
A Stand Up Paddler Reflecting at Sunset
A stand up paddler on Cambridge Creek during the final minutes of a sunset’s glow.
Great Blue Heron in a Pine Tree
I was surprised several people strolled along the boardwalk in front of me and walked right by this Great Blue Heron without even noticing him/her.
But, of course, I did. 😊
Great Blue Heron
Poplar Island’s Restoration Project “For The Birds” – Part II
I first shared the history, scenery, and some bird photos I took from my two recent visits in Part I of Poplar Island’s restoration project.
Our tour boat passed these Cormorants ‘covering’ adjacent Jefferson Island, one of two islands created when Poplar Island’s erosion in the late 1800s caused it to split into three islands (the other is Coaches Island). Jefferson Island was once a hunting retreat playground for presidents and politicians in the 1930-40’s until it burned down in 1946. The house you see was built in the 1950’s by island’s new owners. Jefferson Island and Coaches Island are both still privately owned.
As a group, we sighted 60+ bird species August 5th and 36+ bird species September 20th. I failed to get the last counts.
Each visit on Poplar Island was three hours. For that short amount of time, I thought the number of species we saw was pretty impressive (although some birders were disappointed with the 36+ count).
So here is my second set of five “lifer” photos I picked up, along with the rest of my bird photos that made this post cut.
Caspian Tern
A CaspianTern “Meeting”
Caspian Terns
Caspian Terns – “A Fish Delivery” sequence
Caspian Terns – “A Fish Delivery” sequence
Caspian Terns – “A Fish Delivery” sequence
Caspian Terns – “A Fish Delivery” sequence
Caspian Terns – “A Fish Delivery” sequence
Caspian Terns – “A Fish Delivery Sequence”
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon (my 6th added “lifer”)
(who we all watched nervously as it dived into the shorebirds but came up empty)
Glossy Ibis
Glossy Ibi
Glossy Ibis and their rookery
Blue-winged Teal (my 7th added “lifer”)
Common Gallinule
Common Gallinules
Common Gallinules
Common Gallinule (shot through bus window and my 8th “lifer”)
It was noted there was a family of two parents and four juveniles.
Great Egret
Our Eastern Willets that breed along the Atlantic Coast have already left for migration to Central and South America. The Western Willet migrates from the mid-West not only to the Pacific Coast but many migrate here to our Atlantic Coast. Our sighting of Western Willets was identified and confirmed for Poplar Island.
Western Willet
Western Willet
Western Willets (my 9th added “lifer”)
Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Herons
Little Blue Heron Rookery
Lesser Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs (my 10th added “lifer”)
Western Willet (background) and Lesser Yellowlegs
Poplar Island birding tour dates are announced the beginning of the year via email and made available first come first serve. Check out their website to obtain more information on those and other group tours and how to get signed up for next year. The tours are FREE and fill up fast! If you miss out, asked to be added to the wait list.
http://www.poplarislandrestoration.com/
I think we can agree, Poplar Island’s restoration project’s success to date is pretty awesome. It is estimated that in the mid-Chesapeake Bay region, over 10,500 acres of wildlife’s unique habitat have been lost due to erosive forces in the last 150 years.
Great news – This year federal and state officials commenced design and engineering work to begin another dredging material restoration project in 2022 for two more islands just south of Poplar Island in Dorchester County, starting with James Island restoring back to 2,072 acres, and Barren Island back to 72 acres.
The birds are loving and will continue to love their restored Chesapeake Bay island paradises!
Previous post –> Poplar Island’s Restoration Project “For The Birds” – Part I
Series: Take A Moment and Enjoy A Sunset
If you didn’t get to experience a beautiful sunset this evening, I am happy to share with you mine. It was one to be watched and admired as the clouds burst in color, reflecting gorgeously on our creek below.
Sunset over Cambridge Creek – 10/2/19
“Don’t forget, beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies.”
– Paulo Coelho
Bay Photos by Donna 