16 Saturday Mar 2019
Posted in Great Swamp, Photography
Tags
Chipmunk, cygnet, Eastern Blue Bird, Great Swamp, mute swan, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird
I took the following photos today while visiting the Great Swamp of New Jersey, on a very windy and cold day. There were not too many birds or animals around, but some may be good eye candy for the weekend.
Eastern Blue Bird.
Red-winged Blackbird.
Mute Swan Cygnet.
A Chipmunk ran across my path then took refuge in a tree hole.
Chipmunk.
24 Saturday Nov 2018
Posted in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, EBF Refuge, Photography
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.
11 Wednesday Jul 2018
Posted in Ocean City Welcome Center, Photography
Tags
Black-crowned Night Heron, Ocean City Welcome Center, photography, postaday, red-winged blackbird, rookery
Black-crowned Night Herons are a major presence at the rookery next to the Welcome Center at Ocean City, NJ. These birds hunt for their food starting at dusk, and their eyes are one of their most noticeable features.
Black-crowned Night Heron.
Immature Black-crowned Night Heron.
Despite their size these Herons are easily intimidated by the Red-winged Blackbird, a fierce defender of its territory. I saw a Blackbird chase a Heron into a tree.
Red-winged Blackbird and Black-crowned Night Heron.
Pursued by the Blackbird, the Heron tried to hide among the branches. Unfortunately, too many leaves shielded the small Blackbird from the camera.
Black-crowned Night Heron very wary of Red-winged Blackbird.
Black-crowned Night Heron.
09 Monday Apr 2018
Posted in EBF Refuge, Photography
Red-winged Blackbirds are everywhere at the refuge, with the male birds sporting red and yellow shoulder badges. This time of the year the males fly to find high perches from which they belt out their incessant songs. They show no fear of cars and humans, and are easy to photograh.
Red-winged Blackbird.
Red-winged Blackbird singing.
Young Red-winged Blackbird.
Red-winged Blackbird.
16 Saturday Sep 2017
Posted in EBF Refuge, Photography
Going through some unpublished photos I took over the last few months, I am struck by the many different kinds of birds that live in our small part of New Jersey. Here’s how diversity looks among birds.
Juvenile Red-winged Blackbird.
Black Skimmer.
Snow Geese. They are not all white.
Peacock.
Snowy Egret.
06 Wednesday Sep 2017
Posted in Photography
The link for this challenge is: https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/waiting-2017/
Blue Jay waiting.
Juvenile Red-winged Blackbird waiting.
24 Wednesday May 2017
Posted in Photography
Daddy Red-winged Blackbird: “Sonny, here’s how you begin. Lift your wings and start flapping them.”
Juvenile Red-winged Blackbird: “No, I won’t do that! I just want food!”
05 Friday May 2017
Posted in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Photography
The male Red-winged Blackbird is easily recognized by his red and yellow shoulder patches and his propensity to sing for any reason from the top of reeds or bushes. I saw the one pictured below at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland more than a week ago. He was not shy, stood his ground, and continued serenading even as my car came nearer to him.
Red-winged Blackbird.
Red-winged Blackbird.
Red-winged Blackbird.
Red-winged Blackbird.
27 Tuesday Dec 2016
Posted in Ocean City Welcome Center, Photography
Going through my files from this past June, I found the following series showing a Red-winged Blackbird dive-bombing a Black-crowned Night Heron that had strayed too close to its nest. This all happened in less than a minute near the Ocean City Welcome Center in New Jersey.
Red-winged Blackbird dive-bombing Black-crowned Night Heron.
Red-winged Blackbird lifting up for another dive!
Red-winged Blackbird chasing Black-crowned Night Heron.
Black-crowned Night Heron landing. Note gap on its back.
Black-crowned Night Heron: “OMG, what was that?!”
21 Thursday May 2015
Posted in EBF Refuge, Photography
The Red-winged Blackbird, an ubiquitous bird in North America, likes to sing. The other day I saw and heard one belting out a famous aria.
Red-winged Blackbird tenor coming on stage. He looked right.
He looked left. Female blackbirds were getting their handkerchiefs ready.
He started the aria: “E lucevan le stelle …”
He paused briefly. Female blackbirds were sobbing.
He then sang the most beautiful notes: “O! dolci baci, o languide carezze, mentr’io fremente le belle forme disciogliea dai veli!”
My apologies to Puccini and any opera lover that I may have offended. If you want to hear a human tenor sing E lucevan le stelle from Tosca, here’s the best:
18 Thursday Dec 2014
Posted in Photography
Last September, flocks of red-winged blackbirds were swooping up and down around me at the Abbott Marshlands. A few landed close by and I took the following shot of a juvenile blackbird. Note the more mature bird with more brilliant coloring beyond it.
Juvenile red-winged blackbird
Many mourning doves live in our area, and here are two examples.
Mourning dove
Mourning dove gathering materials for nest
In early October, I was hiking at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge when a skunk crossed the road and scurried toward me, coming as close as 30 ft. Uh, oh! I stopped and squeezed a few shots, including the one below. Fortunately, the skunk went back into the bushes and did not spray anything. However, it was an omen. The following day, I was told that my job had been eliminated.
Skunk
