Canada Geese Taking Flight
Just after sunrise on Valentine’s Day, I watched a skein of Canada Geese fly into and land in the still-shaded waters of Cambridge Creek.
They slowly swam their way up to and past me, coming to the creek’s end. The sun was now high enough to lighten up the water, giving awesome reflection opportunities.
Canada Goose
Canada Geese
The sail boat masts and piers were reflecting cool patterns around them as the water got brighter and a slight breeze kicked up.
Canada Geese
Unable to go any further, the stopped geese looked around and at each other.
Then the loud honking began.
Plans were discussed.
An agreement was made.
And then their take-off started.
I’ve seen this scenario so many times. But this time, instead of locking on and following several as they took off, I stood camera-steady and held down my shutter button, surprisingly getting 14 images before my camera and battery said, “enough, we need to catch up!”
The Canada Geese efforts as well as their flight and water patterns that developed were pretty cool and I thought enjoyable to share.
To see these best, click on the first image to follow through the sequence.
Canada Geese taking flight
Did you notice the pair of Ruddy Ducks in the top left corner of the photos? Luckily, they didn’t get run over! 😊
Happy Valentine’s Day
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Beautiful driftwood carving seen few days ago in a store for sale in St. Michaels, MD
I didn’t luck out on any recent wildlife ‘heart’ photos, so I’m sharing a throwback from 2012.
It wasn’t until I was viewing my photos back then that I noticed the ‘heart’ within the Great Egret neck’s crook. Do you see it too?
Great Egret “Heart” – taken at Chincoteague NWR, Virginia
I hope you have/had a ❤ of a day!
A Great Day Birding On Cambridge Creek
When the Bald Eagle landed on our community’s Osprey nest platform a few days ago (post here), it was just the beginning of a surprising great day of birding on Cambridge Creek right from my balcony. It was mostly a cloudy day, but I lucked out with some peeks of sun here and there.
Eleven species total! I don’t think I’ve seen this many species on just one day here on the creek. With lots of mingling, sleeping, preening, diving, and following each other around, it was a delight to just watch the action. Eventually, each specie (except the Ring-billed Gull) ventured close for some nice shots to share. I twiddled my images down to no more than a couple close-ups for each specie and a few ‘crowd mingling’ extras.
We’ve been recently hosting about 10-20 Lesser Scaup on the creek daily. That morning after the Bald Eagle departed, we had two flocks totaling over 100 Lesser Scaup fly in joining our daily group. Two shots here showing most of them.
Lesser Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Lesser Scaup on Cambridge Creek
Lesser Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Lesser Scaup (4 males, 1 female) Lesser Scaup (male & female)
I noticed two different ducks mixed in with the flocks. One was a male Canvasback. He was very skittish with the surroundings and stayed close to the Lesser Scaup most of the time.
Canvasback (male)
Lesser Scaup & Canvasback (both males)
Canvasback (male) Canvasback & Lesser Scaup (both males)
The other was this lovely surprise, a male Long-tailed Duck. He seemed shy to the others but tried a few times to be included in the group, following along.
Long-tailed Duck (male)
Long-tailed Duck (male)
Long-tailed Duck (male)
I was pretty excited with the Long-tailed Duck. I had only captured them once prior in flight, so he was a awesome treat.
All this duck ruckus got the curiosity of our creek’s winter water residents who ventured to the party to hang out as well.
Ruddy Duck (male)
Resting Ruddy Ducks
Ruddy Duck (male) Ruddy Ducks
Pied-bill Grebe
Pied-bill Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Mallard
Herring Gull
Mallard (male) Herring Gull
The Common Goldeneye wanted to be left alone and kept trying to get away from the crowds.
Common Goldeneye (male)
Common Goldeneye (male)
Common Goldeneye (male)
Even Cassie, the injured Canvasback, showed up. But she, too, kept away and to herself. I was hoping the male Canvasback would take notice of Cassie, but I never saw them two mingled. Oh wait…come to think of it, both of them did disappear a little later. Hmmmm….. 😉
“Cassie” Canvasback (female)
A flock of seven Canada Geese appeared to be making an effort to fly into the creek but aborted, I’m guessing because it was too crowded and no open space. They continued on to find another location to land.
Canada Geese
As mentioned, there was a lot of mingling. Everyone got along, and we all know there is safety in numbers!
Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye
Lesser Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Ruddy Duck
Lesser Scaup, Canvasback
Lesser Scaup, sleeping Ruddy Duck
Ruddy Duck, Lesser Scaup, Long-tailed Duck
Lesser Scaup, Pied-billed Grebe
As is usually the case with flocks, when a few get the itch to leave, the rest will follow. Most of the ducks were gone by the afternoon.
Lesser Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Lesser Scaup taking flight
Lesser Scaup heading down the creek
Only a couple dozen Lesser Scaup and seven Ruddy Ducks remained late that day, as well as our other winter residents who went back into hiding within the marina piers and bulkheads.
It was quiet the next few days, basically back to normal. And then during the last several days of rain, sleet, and wind, a large number of Lesser Scaup have returned, to take refuge from the weather. Hopefully they will stick around for a while, even if just to watch them.
A Pier For The Birds
There is a dilapidated pier in the river jutting out from Key Wallace Drive at Blackwater NWR. It is a favorite perch for many birds throughout the year, especially cormorants and gulls.
On occasion you might find a surprise perched there. This past week I was delighted with two surprises.
The first was a majestic Great Blue Heron.
Great Blue Heron
Passing by again two days later, the second surprise, a Bald Eagle. Such a shame that day was cloudy….
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Two gorgeous surprises each worth the stop to photograph.
Foggy Sunrise Over Choptank River
A lone gull enjoys a foggy sunrise from his perch on the Bill Burton Fishing Pier.
Foggy Sunrise over Choptank River
“Morning glory is the best name, it always refreshes me to see it.”
— Henry David Thoreau
Osprey Nest Platform Visitor – Eagle
Shortly after sunrise, the hazy clouds broke for a moment and the sun reflected the distance buildings onto the water down Cambridge Creek. Standing at my slider door sipping a cup of coffee, I was mesmerized with the colors as well as the ducks below me who were already busily diving for food.
A Bald Eagle came out of nowhere and landed on our community’s Osprey nest platform that was still shaded.
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Just sittin’ on the dock platform on the bay creek….
Bald Eagle
Even though it glanced down at the Lesser Scaup and Ruddy Ducks below, the Eagle didn’t seem interested, which I was relieved. Even the ducks didn’t seem alarmed, which I thought was odd.
Bald Eagle – getting some of the sun’s lighting through the hazy clouds finally
This Bald Eagle has almost reached full adult. You can see the dark spot of feathers on the top of its head and the tail still has a dirty-look. In the photos further below, you can also still see some blotchy-white spots on the wings while in flight.
“Scratchin’ An Itch”
Almost an hour later, as the sun was peaking again, it was time to go. Of course.
The Bald Eagle flew gracefully down the creek, past the Dorchester County Office Building, and out towards the Choptank River.
“May you soar on Eagle wings, high above the madness of the world.”
— Jonathan Lockwood Huie
What a delightful way to begin the day!
Series: Take a Moment and Enjoy a Sunset
Today’s late afternoon clouds looked promising for a possible dramatic sunset. I decided to go to Blackwater NWR; I had just enough time to get to there and set up beforehand.
Mother Nature did not disappoint; it was spectacular, reflecting on Blackwater River.
If you missed your sunset today, I hope you enjoy ours from Eastern Shore Maryland. It was quite uplifting!
These are taken from the same location, just different directions around the sunset itself.
Sunset over Blackwater NWR – February 5, 2019
Sunset over Blackwater NWR – February 5, 2019
Sunset over Blackwater NWR – February 5, 2019
Sunset over Blackwater NWR – February 5, 2019
What a sunset! As the sky darkened, I packed up my gear and drove to the wildlife drive exit.
Suddenly the sky started to lighten back up. I turned left on Rt. 335 and drove to the Blackwater River bridge just down the road.
Sure enough, an encore occurred…..
Sunset over Blackwater NWR – February 5, 2019
Sunset over Blackwater NWR – February 5, 2019
“The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire.”
— Pamela Hansford Johnson
Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
During my visit last week at Blackwater NWR, I also had the pleasure of watching and photographing this juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk, who had its focus on the marsh grasses below.
Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
The hawk changed its perch, landing lower and closer to me. The little birds were alarming frantically in the marsh grasses around me, some flitting about in and out of the reeds. The hawk was watching them.
Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
I started fearing the worse. I really didn’t want to watch this beautiful hawk catch his meal.
Another perch change, with a heads-up look at me. Of course, it knew I was there, even though I barely moved the whole time.
Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
Then the young Red-shouldered Hawk went back to his/her focus into the grasses below.
I decided then it was time to move on and leave the hawk to its task. It was best for the both of us.
Little Winter Birds at Blackwater NWR
I got a chance to spend a few hours last week at Blackwater NWR on the day after our area had been pounded with frigid cold, gale winds two days prior.
The little winter birds were out and about in full force! Everyone was hungry and excited with the warm sun, no winds, and temps in the low 40’s.
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Downy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Nuthatch
(not so great a shot BUT a new lifer for me!)
Song Sparrow
There were so many others I missed! During this time of year, it’s not always so easy to capture our little winter birds who hide so well. So this day seeing their presence and action made my visit even more enjoyable.
American & Eurasian Wigeons
In past winters, I’ve been lucky to see and photograph American Wigeons, but always at a distance. In the past month, I’ve found them hanging out in a location closer to the shore. Several visits finally paid off for me to really show the beauty of this dabbling duck in wonderful lighting.
American Wigeon (male)
American Wigeons (male & female)
The American Wigeons’ calls are a cute, unique nasal whistle. It is pretty neat to hear them whistling constantly when they’re together in a flock.
American Wigeons
American Wigeon (male)
American Wigeon (male)
Even when they are departing, American Wigeons are gorgeous!
American Wigeon (male) in flight over ice
American Wigeon (male) in flight over ice
By March, American Wigeons will return back to their breeding grounds in Canada.
American Wigeons
These American Wigeon images have me recalling my first winter photographing American Wigeons in February 2012. Riding past the waterfront Holiday Inn at Kent Narrows, Maryland, I saw a group of people in the parking lot, along the waterfront with binoculars and cameras/tripods.
Of course, I pulled in! I grabbed my camera & 70-200mm lens and went to see what the hoopla was about. Several were excited to point out an Eurasian Wigeon among American Wigeons and other wintering birds.
I later learned that although common and widespread in the Old World, the Eurasian Wigeon is a sporadic visitor to North America. The ones we are fortunate to see each year along the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines likely come from eastern Siberia and Iceland.
Here’s my best shot through the reeds and cropped considerably of that Eurasian Wigeon, I shared back in 2012.
Eurasian Wigeon (male, dead center) with American Wigeons and Mallards
All the wigeons were gone the next day; and I visited quite often after that, hoping for their return, especially the Eurasian Wigeon, but to no avail.
Having only been amateur ‘birding’ for a year and a half, I found that moment quite exhilarating to see a bird that was rare to my area.
And, now, here I am, seven years later, more in love and fascinated with our amazing feathered friends, along with enjoying the opportunities to photograph and share their beauty with you. 😊
By the way, I’ve never seen an Eurasian Wigeon since.
Bay Photos by Donna 