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.
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.
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.
One of the eagles kept calling out for several minutes.
Finally, the one that was calling flew off.
It went in circle, looping around several times, putting on a majestic show for the visitor photographer.
Then it landed back to its perch on the dead tree.
Nick Hunter said:
Superb. Love the setting in the first image.
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Julie@frogpondfarm said:
Those eagle photos are just amazing … i hope that the wildlife refuge finds the funds it needs
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Julie!
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bluebrightly said:
The eagle photos are so impressive! And I’m sure you’ll have more chances to take photos of the swans. We have thousands here in the agricultural fields, but they do tend to stay towards the middle of the fields, away from the roads. One needs a good long lens and a tripod, neither of which are in my proverbial bag. Each of us concentrates on certain things, and you photograph birds (and flowers!) superbly.
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Lynn! I usually have my tripod along, but sometimes there isn’t enough time to use it, unless the birds stay in one place for some time.
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bluebrightly said:
You do well with and without the tripod!
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M.B. Henry said:
WOW!!! What great shots of those eagles!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you!
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bayphotosbydonna said:
Wonderful captures, Hien, I am glad you made it to Blackwater! I’ve slipped over there again and saw maybe 30-40 TSwan off in the distance as well. Hopefully, more will arrive soon and stay the winter around there and Eastern Neck, where I’ve had better luck seeing them up closer at.
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Donna! I will go back to Eastern Neck in December or January, weather permitting.
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bayphotosbydonna said:
😊
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Emma Cownie said:
Love the eagles. What magnificent creatures. Why are they called “bald” if they are not actually bald, or does “bald” mean someting else?
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neihtn2012 said:
When a Bald Eagle reaches maturity, at about 5 years of age, the top of their head is fully white, giving it the “bald” look. Younger eagles gave brown head, becoming more and more speckled with white as they age.
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Emma Cownie said:
Oh! Thank you for explaining that to me, Hein.
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sidilbradipo1 said:
Impressive photos 😍
Ciao
Sid
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Sid!
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rabirius said:
The eagle pictures are fantastic. I like the ones in flight, but also the ones where the pair is sitting in the trees is really fantastic.
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you! Glad you like these photos!
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MichaelStephenWills said:
Sorry to hear of the potential lack of funding for a national wildlife refuge. Loved the eagle photos.
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Michael!
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quietsolopursuits said:
Excellent images of the eagles, both perched and in flight! here so many questions that I have about their behavior, such as how mated pairs are able to find each other when they often hunt miles apart from one another, and why do they call, even when their mate is nearby.
Sorry for the rant here, but we have several National Wildlife Refuges that are closed in Michigan due to “lack of funding”, and I think that it’s all nonsense. The feds own the land and don’t sell it when they close a refuge, they only close it to the public to prevent us from seeing the wildlife there. I don’t understand why there have to be employees there, or any of the other rules and regulations that go with these refuges, other than it will be used in the long run to extract more money from the taxpayers in the form of fees, or to simply place more of nature off limits to the public. Again, sorry for the rant, you may edit this post to cut that out if you wish.
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you for you comments, Jerry!
On the subject of fees, I think sooner or later they will have to be increased. Even with more government funding, in the end it still comes from us in the form of taxes. At Eastern Neck NWR, private groups have already donated money to rebuild walkways and some buildings. But salaries for employees is probably the biggest burden. At Blackwater, many people work there as volunteers. They are retirees, but park rangers must be younger and well trained, and must be paid for. There is no easy solution.
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SwittersB & Exploring said:
Wonderful!!!!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you!
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ekurie said:
Breathtaking
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you!
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de Wets Wild said:
Shocking to hear that a wildlife refuge may be lost due to lack of funding, Hien! There’s so few areas left for wildlife to begin with!
Your images are truly spectacular and the eagles majestic (especially in flight!)
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neihtn2012 said:
As it is, all the refugees benefit from volunteer work done for free by some people who live in the area, from greeting visitors to weeding and helping with light chores. At Eastern Neck NWR, private donations have paid for some reconstruction and maintenance work. I can see the day when entrance fees will be increased dramatically in order to maintain the refuges.
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cindy knoke said:
Gorgeous captures!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you very much Cindy!
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Irene said:
As always, your photos make me want to get out the door this very second and practice some more. 😊
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neihtn2012 said:
We should all get out often and capture more of nature’s beauty with our cameras!
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Irene said:
Agree! 😊
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Eliza Waters said:
Nice Eagle flight series, Hien. They really are majestic birds.
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Eliza!
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DRF said:
Very nice photos.
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you very much!
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