Flying Lessons

Tags

bald eagle, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday

Several young Bald Eagles were flying around a small island in the middle of the marsh. Some attempted to catch a fish but failed.

Young Bald Eagle.

Young Bald Eagle.

Young Bald Eagle.

The one above landed on the island where a mature Bald Eagle was watching everything.

Young Bald Eagle landing on island.

For several minutes the older Bald Eagle seemed to be calling to the new arrival.

Young Bald Eagle landing. Note the older Bald Eagle calling.

After the young one landed and stood to the side, the mature Bald Eagle kept calling, perhaps telling the younger one to fly again and go catch some fish.

Mature Bald Eagle: “Go catch some fish!”

Finally the younger Bald Eagle had to take off again.

Young Bald Eagle resumed flying.

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Bald Eagle Courtship

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bald eagle, courtship, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday

Yesterday at the refuge, a pair of Bald Eagles were flying in a courtship ritual that was dramatic, fast, and hard to catch for my camera. They were alternatively soaring to the sky and plunging toward the marsh at high speed. Often they were too far from where I was, and I could only get good focus on about half of the shots. The following photos will give you an idea of what took place.

Bald Eagle flying in courtship ritual.

Bald Eagle flying in courtship ritual.

Bald Eagle flying in courtship ritual.

Bald Eagle flying in courtship ritual.

Two Bald Eagles flying in courtship ritual.

Two Bald Eagles flying in courtship ritual.

Two Bald Eagles flying in courtship ritual.

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.

2018 Year of the Bird

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bald eagle, barn swallow, barnegat lighthouse, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, great egret, Long-billed Dowitcher, mourning dove, photography, postaday, ring-billed gull, sanderling, year of the bird

2018 is the Year of the Bird, as declared by the National Audubon Society, National Geographic, BirdLife International, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I didn’t know about that until now, but here are seven photos I took recently of birds around New Jersey.

Two Barn Swallows in Newton, NJ.

Mourning Dove on beach at Barnegat Light.

Great Egret at Edwin B Forsythe NWR.

Sanderling at Barnegat Light.

Young Bald Eagle at Edwin B Forsythe NWR.

Long-billed Dowitcher at Edwin B Forsythe NWR.

Juvenile Ring-billed Gull at Barnegat Light.

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Tags

bald eagle, great blue heron, great egret, montezuma national wildlife refuge, photography, postaday, ring-billed gull

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is at the Northern end of Cayuga Lake, one of the 11 finger lakes in New York state. It is less than a quarter of the size of Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey, but has much of the same wildlife, with the addition of Sandhill Cranes and Black Terns that are not usually seen in New Jersey.

We drove on Wildlife Drive through Montezuma NWR, stopping occasionally to take pictures.

Marsh Mallows were vibrant and plentiful at Montezuma NWR.

Marsh Mallows at Montezuma NWR.

A young Bald Eagle surprised me by swooping overhead and diving toward the marshes. It was too fast and moved around too much for me to get good pictures, but the following will give you an idea of the drama evolving in the sky.

Bald Eagle at Montezuma NWR.

Bald Eagle at Montezuma NWR.

Bald Eagle at Montezuma NWR.

Bald Eagle at Montezuma NWR.

Bald Eagle at Montezuma NWR.

However, the young Bald Eagle failed to catch any fish.

There were several Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets that landed near Wildlife Drive then stood or walked in the water.

Great Blue Heron at Montezuma NWR.

Great Blue Heron and Great Egret at Montezuma NWR.

Great Egret preening at Montezuma NWR.

Great Egret at Montezuma NWR.

Great Egret at Montezuma NWR.

There were many Ring-billed Gulls and Canada Geese at Montezuma NWR. One gull was hovering over the marshes and crisscrossing the sky, asking to be photographed.

Ring-billed Gull at Montezuma NWR.

Bald Eagle at Colonial Lake

Tags

bald eagle, photography, postaday

This morning a Bald Eagle stood on the same branch at Colonial Lake in Lawrenceville, NJ for at least an hour, probably digesting its breakfast as people took turns photographing it. Lighting was ideal, and the bird let us come as close as we wanted.

Bald Eagle at Colonial Lake.

Bald Eagle at Colonial Lake.

Bald Eagle at Colonial Lake.

Bald Eagle at Colonial Lake.

Bald Eagle at Colonial Lake looking at photographer.

Bald Eagle Near Home

Tags

bald eagle, colonial lake, photography, postaday

Early this morning I went to Colonial Lake, a small lake about 5 miles (8 km) from home where at least one Bald Eagle has been seen on a daily basis. Not more than 15 minutes after I arrived, an eagle swooped down and plucked a big fish out of the lake. I was not quite ready yet, so my first shot is not the best, but at least you do see the action.

Bald Eagle catching fish.

The eagle took the fish to a high branch on a tree and proceeded to eat it there.

Bald Eagle eating fish.

He ate the whole fish in less than 10 minutes, after which he took off right above me to go for a drink.

Bald Eagle flying toward water.

Bald Eagle drinking lake water.

He had several drinks, looking up each time to check his surroundings.

Balk Eagle looking up after one drink.

Then he shifted position.

Bald Eagle turning.

Bald Eagle after turn.

Then he flew up to a nearby tree, perched on a branch, and looked down on the lake and the other birds there, ignoring the few humans who wandered around along the lake shore.

Bald Eagle.

I think he eventually took a nap for I did not see it move from his perch for almost half an hour.

Young Bald Eagle

Tags

bald eagle, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, photography, postaday

This morning was cloudy and windy, but I went to the refuge anyway, and among the many birds and ducks I saw a young Bald Eagle who put on an impressive flying exhibition.

Young Bald Eagle on Osprey nest. The Ospreys had migrated South a month or so ago.

People in several cars were trying to take its picture, so the Bald Eagle took off.

Young Bald Eagle.

It looked as if it was preparing to dive.

Young Bald Eagle.

Young Bald Eagle.

But it just banked and flew away.

Young Bald Eagle.

Here’s another shot of it against a small portion of the sky that was blue.

Young Bald Eagle.

Bald Eagle

Tags

bald eagle, conowingo dam, photography, postaday

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.

Bald Eagles at Conowingo Dam

Tags

bald eagle, conowingo, photography, postaday

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 100 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.

How Low Can it Fly?

Tags

bald eagle, edwin b forstythe national wildlife refuge, photography, postaday

On Monday, as soon as I entered the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, I noticed some commotion going on in the reeds. A bald eagle was diving for a fish, there was a splash of water, wings beating furiously. It all happened very fast, and I had only time to take out my camera and take this one shot.

Bald eagle flying low

The eagle did not catch anything!