31 Sunday Jan 2016
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Amaryllis Belladonna is a bulb that I grow in a small pot so that it flowers in January when nothing else blooms in our yard or inside the house. Belladonna means pretty woman, and this flower amply deserves that designation. It comes in many colors, all very appealing. This year I planted a Red Lion which did not bloom at all, and the following pink and white which flowered profusely to compensate for its lazy cousin.
Amaryllis Belladonna.
24 Sunday Jan 2016
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blizzard, bluejay, cardinal, dark-eyed junco, jones, photography, postaday, red-bellied woodpecker, sparrow, tufted titmouse
The blizzard of 2016, Jonas, turned out to be one for the records. The amount of snow dumped on our region approached or even exceeded all-time records dating back to the 19th century. I did not measure it at our house, but it took us three and a half hours to clear our driveway, even with a snowblower and three of us working.
Here are a few photos of some of the birds that came to our backyard during the blizzard, with all photos taken through the patio glass door, not an optimal setting.
Blue Jay. One of its feathers was torn loose.
Cardinal. He was brilliant red!
Dark-eyed Junco.
Sparrow.
Tufted Titmouse.
Red-bellied Woodpecker, with Dark-eyed Juncos around it.
Our deck this morning, after Jonas passed through.
Finally, another shot of that cute Blue Jay.
Blue Jay.
23 Saturday Jan 2016
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The blizzard of 2016 is turning out to be worse than predicted. We have about a foot of snow already and it is still falling down, while the wind is blowing it all over everything.
Many birds came to our bird feeder, restocked since yesterday with sunflower seeds. I tried opening our patio door a crack to take some photos, and the wind blew snow right into my lens hood! Finally I had to take the following photo of a cardinal through the glass door. Lighting was bad of course, but you get an idea of what is was like for the birds.
Cardinal in blizzard of 2016.
22 Friday Jan 2016
Posted in EBF Refuge, Photography
Before the coming monster snowstorm descends on us tonight, I am posting photos of Hooded Mergansers taken last week. There were quite a few of them searching for food and socializing among themselves. They were real dandies, at least among ducks.
Hooded Merganser: “I have the biggest hood!”
Hooded Merganser: “Leave me alone. I need some shut eye.”
Hooded Merganser: “Follow me, let’s go see the ladies!”
Hooded Merganser: “She’s only pretending to be asleep.”
Male Hooded Merganser with two females.
Hooded Merganser: “Oh no, not another bad hair day!”
21 Thursday Jan 2016
Posted in EBF Refuge, Photography
I saw a small group of American Coots at the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in mid December last year. They mingled with Mallards, but they are not ducks since their feet are not webbed. They are also called mud hens and are closely related to Moorhens or Common Gallinules.
American Coots at EBFG National Wildlife Refuge.
American Coots are mainly dark, almost black, with a white face and red eyes, with a patch of red on their forehead. They mainly eat plants. Since they are not an endangered species, they may be hunted but not as much as ducks since hunters disdain their meat!
American Coot at EBF National Wildlife Refuge.
American Coot at EBF National Wildlife Refuge.
19 Tuesday Jan 2016
Posted in EBF Refuge, Photography
This past Sunday, some Snow Geese found a good place for food on the banks of the salt marshes at Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
Snow Geese at EBF National Wildlife Refuge.
As I watched them, every minute or so more Snow Geese kept flying in. I only had to point my camera up to the sky to catch them landing at their new feeding spot.
Snow Geese coming in for a landing.
They made big splashes but that hardly bothered those who were busy eating.
Snow Goose landing on water.
16 Saturday Jan 2016
Posted in Photography
The weather was bad and I had to work, so I have not taken any photo for a week. The following shots are of Bald Eagles at the Conowingo Dam in Maryland at the beginning of this year, two weeks ago. They were busy hunting for fish and glided regally against a blue sky as several dozens of photographers, just like paparazzi around celebrities, aimed their long lenses at them.
Bald Eagle looking for fish downstream from the Conowingo Dam.
Bald Eagle at Conowingo Dam.
Bald Eagle at Conowingo Dam.
Bald Eagle at Conowingo Dam.
10 Sunday Jan 2016
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Today I took a few photos of a Dark-eyed Junco that was coming to our bird feeder. It had its left wing slightly higher than its right one as you can see below.
Junco with wing problem.
A while later, I saw it at the bird feeder and took the following photo.
What is wrong with the left side of this Junco? Some kind of unusual growth? A broken wing?
It was moving, but not as fast as the other Juncos. It was eating. There was no blood that I could see. If you know what the problem is, and how we can help this bird, please comment and tell me what I should do.
10 Sunday Jan 2016
Posted in EBF Refuge, Photography
Yesterday was cloudy all day, but I went out anyway to the Edwin B Fortsythe National Wildlife Refuge near Brigantine, NJ to see what I could photograph. It turned out to be not much. Most of the photos turned out mediocre at best and had to be discarded. However, it was high tide and at two of the locations where sea water came into to the marshes I found Hooded Mergansers and Buffleheads merrily diving for food.
Buffleheads are small ducks, even smaller than Hooded Mergansers. They kept their distances, and I could only get one good shot at a pair.
Buffleheads, female on left, male on right. The male had a glossy green forehead, which would have been more colorful in better lighting.
The Hooded Mergansers were bolder, coming within 30 ft, seemingly undisturbed by the guy with a white car and a black camera.
Male Hooded Merganser. He had been diving so his crest or hood was tamped down.
There were several female Hooded Mergansers who looked quite coquettish even as they dived and resurfaced constantly.
Female Hooded Mergansers.
Female Hooded Merganser.
07 Thursday Jan 2016
Posted in Photography
The weather has been atrocious throughout the land: snowstorms, torrential rains, flood, mudslides, plunging and bone-chilling temperatures, fast walks or runs from the car to the house or the office. However, the following photos taken last April are what we can look forward to in a few short months. It is allowed to dream of Spring, isn’t it?
Pond at Branch Brook park near Newark, NJ.
Cherry blossoms at Branch Brook park near Newark, NJ.
06 Wednesday Jan 2016
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When I saw the following photo, I thought I had dust in my camera. Then I looked closely, and it is clear that a bird in the hand is better than three overhead.
Three Snow Geese Overhead!
05 Tuesday Jan 2016
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The weather has not been cooperating so I will be posting photos taken in 2015 that have not yet been displayed here.
Like two lumbering jumbo jets landing at an airport, these two Snow Geese dropped out of the sky on top of their brothers and sisters.
Two Snow Geese landing after a flight.
04 Monday Jan 2016
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Conowingo Dam is a hydroelectric dam built across the Susquehanna River located at the northeast corner of Maryland. It is world famous as the place to photograph Bald Eagles. I found out about it from a photographer I met recently while looking for this year’s Snowy Owl in New Jersey (I haven’t found it yet). He said it was best to go in November, but some Bald Eagles may still be at the dam until February. So I went there this past weekend.
There were perhaps 50 to 100Â photographers with big and long zoom lenses. I was told that in November, photographers, many from far way Asian and European countries, would be standing shoulder to shoulder on Fisherman’s Wharf to photograph hundreds of Bald Eagles as they compete for fish, mainly shad, on the rocky area beneath the dam. The photos they took and posted on the Internet are simply amazing.
Conowingo Dam.
Bald Eagle at Conowingo Dam looking for fish.
Bald Eagle to Conowingo Dam.
The following photos show a Bald Eagle swooping down for a catch, then losing it.
Bald Eagle starting its dive toward fish.
Bald Eagle going after fish.
Bald Eagle catching fish. Note that it only used one talon to grab the fish.
Fish, a Shad, struggled free of Bald Eagle!
Two Bald Eagles fishing.
Shad caught!
Photographing scenes like these requires a lot of preparation and patience. In addition to their cameras, lenses, and tripods, people brought along food, warm drinks, and camp chairs to sit on while they wait for hours and hours. Of course, everyone wore warm clothes, and many even had hunting camos on themselves and wrapped around their lenses.
01 Friday Jan 2016
Posted in EBF Refuge, Photography
Cormorants: “She can swim, but I bet you she can’t fly that well.”
Cormorant: “You talking about me?”
Cormorants: “I told you, she’s just going to stand there.”
Cormorant: “Ha, ha… What are you saying now?”
neihtn 