HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Yikes! It's Thanksgiving ...
Yikes!! - It's Thanksgiving! - Many of us gather with family and friends and remember blessing. For some, however, it is time to flee ...
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Visit to Hawk Banding Station
I spent several hours today with a friend who was banding hawks in a hawk banding station. Cold and brisk, but several hatch year birds were hungry enough, and inexperienced enough, to come in on the lure birds.
First, is a hatch year female Cooper's Hawk ...
Several Red-tailed Hawks were caught and received a free metal bracelet. Here a young "Tail" is on the lure ...
While the hawk was on the lure bird momentarily (the spring-trap net was sprung moments after the photo) the lure bird was carefully examined and found unharmed ...
After being measured, weighed, and fitted with a band, the young bird is released ...
Flying free ...
Along the coast there were sizeable flocks of shorebirds, including a few Ruddy Turnstones ...
... and elsewhere, Golden-crowned Kinglets continue to provide wonderful photo ops ...
Good Birding!!
First, is a hatch year female Cooper's Hawk ...
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| Cooper's Hawk (hatch year) sporting its new jewlery |
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| Cooper's Hawk released after being banded |
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| Hatch year Red-tailed Hawk |
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| Red-tailed Hawk |
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| Red-tailed Hawk (hatch year) released after being banded |
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| Red-tailed Hawk |
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| Ruddy Turnstone |
... and elsewhere, Golden-crowned Kinglets continue to provide wonderful photo ops ...
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| Golden-crowned Kinglet |
Friday, November 09, 2012
Black-throated Green, Rusty, et al - Heinz NWR today
Today was a beautiful, crisp Fall day at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Philadelphia.
It began with a Black-throated Green Warbler, a bird which should be in Belize by now - and if it does not get a move on soon will become a genetic cul-de-sac. Nevertheless, a feast for the eyes, and a cooperative poser for the cameras of several birders.
Photographic highlights included the elusive elf of the tree trunk - Brown Creeper.
Waterfowl are still abundant on the impoundment, including the Ruddy Duck ...
At home in the southeastern corner of Vermont, the Rusty Blackbird has been a hit or miss bird from year to year. But at Heinz NWR has been likely tick on my year list in the Fall and Spring, as it was today ...
Good Birding!!
It began with a Black-throated Green Warbler, a bird which should be in Belize by now - and if it does not get a move on soon will become a genetic cul-de-sac. Nevertheless, a feast for the eyes, and a cooperative poser for the cameras of several birders.
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| Black-throated Green Warbler |
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| Black-throated Green Warbler |
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| Black-throated Green Warbler |
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| Black-throated Green Warbler |
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| Brown Creeper |
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| Brown Creeper |
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| Ruddy Duck |
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| Rusty Blackbird |
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| Rusty Blackbird |
Monday, November 05, 2012
Wood Ducks, Kinglets
A Friday afternoon walk along Philadelphia's Wissahickon River provided great opportunities for Wood Duck photography.
The Wood Ducks were also a case study in birdwatching irony - at home in my Vermont neighborhoods where wild beaver ponds and wetlands provide nesting habitat, it would require exceptional effort and good luck to get photographs like these. On the other hand, an urban park within the city limits of Philadelphia provides daily opportunities to stand in awe of these beautiful birds.
Sunday at Heinz NWR (in the shadow of Philadelphia airport), waterfowl still populated the lake, including several Greater Scaup (no photos), while Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Phoebes, and many sparrows worked the trees, understory, and weedy edges ...
Good Birding!
The Wood Ducks were also a case study in birdwatching irony - at home in my Vermont neighborhoods where wild beaver ponds and wetlands provide nesting habitat, it would require exceptional effort and good luck to get photographs like these. On the other hand, an urban park within the city limits of Philadelphia provides daily opportunities to stand in awe of these beautiful birds.
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| Wood Duck |
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| Wood Duck |
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| Wood Duck |
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| Northern Shoveler |
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| Eastern Phoebe |
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| Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
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| Golden-crowned Kinglet |