Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Pelagic Trip

Monday a small group from Southeastern Audubon did a "birding trip" with Newburyport Whalewatch. There were plenty of gulls, terns, and cormorants, but the hoped-for pelagic birds were an almost complete bust. No shearwaters of any kind!

Wilson's Storm-petrel were flying about - mostly at a considerable distance from the boat. Only this one was close enough to allow some reasonable photos ...

Wilson's Storm-petrel
Wilson's Storm-petrel
Wilson's Storm-petrel
Best guess from the naturalists on board was that the preferred food for these birds was in short supply and they were feeding somewhere else. Such is birding.

The whales, on the other hand, put on a good show for the first time this year. (Apparently, it has been a frustrating season for the whalewatchers.)

The highlight was a female humpback whale known as "Fulcrum" and her calf. The calf played in the seaweed, then received lessons from its mother about how to corral fish and feed ...

"Fulcrum" (foreground) and her calf

Calf beginning a deep dive
Close to the boat, the calf begins a deep dive (uncropped photo)


Sunday, July 28, 2013

The Butterfly Garden

The butterfly garden developed by my favorite companion is attracting a great variety of - Butterflies - and much more. Here's a photographic sampling ...

Silver-spotted Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper
Silver-spotted Skipper
 Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail
 White-faced Meadowhawk

White-faced Meadowhawk
Tiger Swallowtail

Tiger Swallowtail

Tiger Swallowtail
 Hummingbird Moth

Hummingbird Moth

Hummingbird Moth
Great Spangled Fritillary

Great Spangled Fritillary

Great Spangled Fritillary

Friday, July 19, 2013

Black Guillemot and Herring Gull

The Black Guillemot is often a distant white and gray speck bobbing on the waves - or during breeding season - a black form with big white wing patches.

On our trip to the Maine coast (at Schoodic Point), we had a different view of the Black Guillemot when we saw one in breeding plumage was fishing close to the rocky shore ...

Black Guillemot

Black Guillemot

Black Guillemot
Common birds are often overlooked by birders and photographers. I noticed recently that my photos of the Herring Gull were rather paltry. So when the opportunities came in Maine, I took them ...


Herring Gull
Herring Gull
Herring Gull
 Good Birding!!

Sunday, July 14, 2013

The Merganser Family

At least dozen species nest on or near my home and/or forage for food for their young in the yard. Many of these bring their fledglings around as a reminder that parenting is a demanding task.

The family that I most look forward to seeing is Mother Merganser and her young. She nests somewhere upriver from our home and leads her brood up and down the river, alerting them to danger and teaching them how to feed themselves.

A couple of days ago, I was reading on the lower lawn when I saw Mother Merganser. I went inside for my camera and was delighted to find her still nearby and with her young.

It appeared that she was trying to lead them upriver, but there were snags and rapids blocking the way, and my presence made her nervous ...

Looking for a way upstream


Waiting for Mom

Perhaps a walk around?
Unable to find an easy passage, she led them hurriedly down river instead ...



Mom takes a short-cut ...

... while the kids follow the shallow current

Mom rides the rapids ...

... and the kids join her.
Good Birding!!

Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Puffin Couple Apology

"I'm sooo sorry ..."


"I just wasn't thinking ...


"I really didn't mean to ..."


"I won't do it again."


"Pleeeease forgive me."


("Sometimes, you just have to grovel ...")


LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails