Silent Sunday

Tags

amaryllis, photography, postaday

Amaryllis.

Amaryllis.

Amaryllis.

Birds in Autumn

Tags

american goldfinch, bald eagle, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, canada geese, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird

The American Goldfinch stands out with its bright yellow coloring in Spring and Summer. The rest of the year, when they are not breeding, their colors are more subdued, even drab, although they still remain very cute.

American Goldfinch.

American Goldfinch.

Another ubiquitous bird is the Red-winged Blackbird.

Red-winged Blackbird at Edwin B Forsythe NWR..

The female Red-winged Blackbird does not have that red and yellow patch on her wings.

Female Red-winged Blackbird at Edwin B Forsythe NWR..

In the fall, Red-winged Blackbirds often join with European Starlings to form flocks of birds that roam through refuges, importuning even Bald Eagles.

Bald Eagle at Blackwater NWR being buzzed by Red-winged Blackbird.

The smaller birds temporarily took over a favorite perch of the Bald Eagles at Blackwater NWR.

Red -winged Blackbirds swarming a Bald Eagle favorite tree.

Finallly, many flocks of Canada Geese flew over the non-migrating Bald Eagle.

Canada Geese flying over Bald Eagle at Blackwater NWR.

Canada Geese at Blackwater NWR.

Tundra Swans, Bald Eagles at Blackwater NWR

Tags

bald eagle, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday, Tundra Swan

Just before Thanksgiving, I went to look for Tundra Swans and Bald Eagles to photograph. I drove first to Maryland’s Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, a place that is threatened with closure for lack of funding. At the present time, there is only one employee left at Eastern Neck. He told me Tundra Swans have started arriving, but only a few have, and they were staying far from the refuge coastline.

Next I went on to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, MD. From the Visitor Center, I could see four Tundra Swans , but it was not easy to photograph them as they were too far. The following photo shows one of them waking up from a midday nap, stretching a wing and a leg. I hope to have better images in late December or next January as the swans arrive in greater numbers at Eastern Neck NWR.

Tundra Swan among Canada Geese at Blackwater NWR.

Blackwater NWR is famous for its Bald Eagles, with some staying there all year round. This is one pair that could be seen from Wildlife Drive.

Bald Eagles at Blackwater NWR.

After watching that pair, I drove around Wildlife Drive for a second time, and found another pair, unless it was the same one above that moved to a different location. This couple was perched on a dead tree sticking out of the water.

Bald Eagles at Blackwater NWR. “Not so loud, dear!”

One of the eagles kept calling out for several minutes.

Bald Eagles at Blackwater NWR. “I will be as loud as I want!”

Finally, the one that was calling flew off.

Bald Eagle flying at Blackwater NWR.

It went in circle, looping around several times, putting on a majestic show for the visitor photographer.

Bald Eagle flying at Blackwater NWR.

Bald Eagle flying at Blackwater NWR.

Then it landed back to its perch on the dead tree.

Bald Eagle flying at Blackwater NWR.

Bald Eagle landing on perch Blackwater NWR. Note the other bird that remained at its position.

Bald Eagle landing on perch at Blackwater NWR.

Bald Eagle back on perch at Blackwater NWR.

Winter Flowers

Tags

amaryllis, christmas cactus, photography, postaday

Amaryllis and Christmas Cactus are flowers that we grow inside the house. They start blooming around Thanksgiving, giving much needed color to combat the drabness of winter.

Christmas Cactus flower bud.

Amaryllis starting to bloom.

Amaryllis flower bud.

Amaryllis.

Monochrome Monday

Tags

cormorant, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, great blue heron, great egret, photography, postaday

These are some shots I have taken earlier this year, rendered in monochrome.

Great Blue Heron.

Cormorant.

Great Egret.

Silent Sunday

Tags

Forster's Tern, laughing gull, lesser yellow legs, photography, postaday, silent dunday

Laughing Gull.

Lesser Yellow Legs.

Forster’s Tern.

Silent Sunday

Tags

colonial lake, photography, postaday, robin, sparrow, squirrel

Squirrel at Colonial Lake.

Robin at Colonial Lake.

Sparrow at Colonial Lake.

Great Blue Heron at Colonial Lake.

Autumn Scenes

Tags

Acadia National Park, photography, postaday

Some more shots of autumn scenes around Acadia National Park.

Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park.

Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park.

These photos were taken a month ago. By now, Acadia probably looks bleak, like the frozen ferns in the following shots.

Ferns at Pretty Marsh Picnic Area, Acadia National Park.

Ferns at Pretty Marsh Picnic Area, Acadia National Park.

Boulders

Tags

Acadia National Park, Bass Harbor, photography, postaday, south bubble

It has been raining all day, heavy at times. A remedy for that is the following shots taken in Acadia National Park only three weeks ago. It was cloudy and rainy too, but autumn colors were still vivid, and there were some interesting boulders.

View from top of South Bubble.

The famous rock on top of South Bubble mountain.

Another boulder near the above one.

Another boulder in the same area of South Bubble mountain.

Big boulder near Pretty Marsh Picnic Area in Acadia National Park.

Autumn scene near Bass Harbor, ME.

Birds in Flight

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, great blue heron, great egret, photography, postaday

You won’t believe how many times I have missed capturing, or badly captured, birds in flight. Two days ago, at the refuge, I finally was able to get several good shots of a Great Blue Heron as it took off from the marsh.

Great Blue Heron in flight.

Great Blue Heron in flight.

Great Blue Heron in flight.

On the same day, a Great Egret also put on a good show.

Great Egret in flight.

Great Blue Heron in flight.

Great Blue Heron in flight.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon

Tags

Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, peregrine falcon, photography, postaday

The Ospreys have migrated from the refuge to warmer places down South, leaving their nests empty. A juvenile Peregrine Falcon was preening and posing in one of the nests for about five minutes, enough time for the following shots.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon.

It was banded on both feet, however I could not make out what the letters or numbers were. Peregrine Falcons are no longer on the endangered species list, but people are still very keen on helping it make a come back after it became almost extinct between 1950 and 1970.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon preening.

“Yeah, did you see me do the scratch?”

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon getting ready to fly.

Unfortunately a flock of Sanderlings distracted me for a minute, and when I looked back at the nest the Peregrine Falcon was no longer there.

Eastern Box Turtle

Tags

Eastern Box Turtle, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday

An Eastern Box Turtle crossed my path as I drove out of the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge yesterday. It was a small but colorful turtle that moved very slowly, allowing me to circle it and take the following shots. It was the smallest adult turtle that I have ever seen, measuring about 5 in (12 cm).

Eastern Box Turtle, a female from the color of the eyes. Males would have red eyes.

Eastern Box Turtle.

Eastern Box Turtle.

Eastern Box Turtles often get run over by cars, and are now classified as vulnerable. People (children) also like to have them as pets because they are small and colorful, but they require good care in order to survive.