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| Clouded Sulphur |
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| Autumn Meadowhawk |
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| Green-winged Teal |
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| Green-winged Teal |
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| Heinz NWR - Philadelphia Airport in background |
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| Carolina Wren |
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| Carolina Wren |
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| Question Mark |
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| Gadwall |
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| Tufted Titmouse |
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| Carolina Chickadee |
Monday, November 14, 2016
November at Heinz NWR
Last Friday was another delightful late Fall day, which once again challenged my prejudice that November is the Blah-Month. Lots of waterfowl, and even a few small things-with-wings ...
Good Birding!
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Rustys and Woodies
I've been remiss about keeping my birding activities up-to-date. I blame it on life. Much of September was spent at Putney Mountain Hawkwatch, and I'll try soon to get some photos posted. (Some hawk photos are on my Facebook Page.)
But I'm in Philly now, and have had a few delightful days of birding in the city. Heinz NRW is a go-to place in late Fall (and again in March) for Rusty Blackbirds, and who knows what else in the middle of the city.
Also in late Fall, the Wissahickon at Valley Green is the go-to place for Wood Ducks.
But I'm in Philly now, and have had a few delightful days of birding in the city. Heinz NRW is a go-to place in late Fall (and again in March) for Rusty Blackbirds, and who knows what else in the middle of the city.
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| Rusty Blackbird |
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| House Finch (female) |
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| Great Blue Heron |
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| White-tailed Deer |
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| Golden-crowned Kinglet |
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| Canada Geese |
Also in late Fall, the Wissahickon at Valley Green is the go-to place for Wood Ducks.
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| Wood Duck (hen) |
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| Wood Duck (drake) |
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| Wissahickon Creek |
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| Wissahickon Creek |
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Cape May State Park and Nature Conservancy
Two of my favorite places for nature meditation are the state park in Cape May Point, and the nearby Nature Conservancy. Both always yield something of interest, and both provide an environment for contemplation and discovery.
A few highlights ...
The Swamp Rose Mallow throughout the marshes was stunning ...
Mute Swans are exotics, and pose problems for native species, but there is no denying that they are beautiful birds, and magnificent in flight ...
Equally magnificent in flight is the Osprey ...
This young Great Blue Heron caught a hearty breakfast, but could not figure out how to manipulate his catch so that it could be swallow head first. He flew a short distance to a dry patch of ground, dropped this fish, stabbed at it once or twice, then picked it up with head positioned correctly. In third picture, note the "throat bulge" of the swallowed fish ...
Watching the Snowy Egret foraging in shallow water was a thing of delicate beauty (unless you happened to be a small fish) ...
Good Birding!!
A few highlights ...
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| Least Tern |
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| Laughing Gull |
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| Spotted Sandpiper |
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| Swamp Rose Mallow |
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| Swamp Rose Mallow |
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| Mute Swans |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Great Blue Heron |
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| Great Blue Heron |
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| Great Blue Heron |
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| Snowy Egret |
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| Snowy Egret |
Egret Convention at Heinz NWR
I was stunned on my recent visit to Heinz NWR in Philadelphia by the number of egrets (mostly Great, also Snowy) in the empoundment (along with many Great Blue Heron). Impressive and picturesque.
Still early August, but the signs that summer is nearly over were seen everywhere: recently fledged Barn Swallows, young Marsh Wren foraging for itself, Red-winged Blackbird feeding a fledgling, and a vangard flock of Semi-palmated Sandpipers.
Although I could not find them, cicadas were singing loudly in the trees. Along the pathway, Cicada Killer Wasps were also active.
Good Birding!
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| Egret Convention - I count 35+, a small portion of the gathering. |
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| 25+ egrets in this photo, plus at least 3 Great Blue Herons |
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| Barn Swallows |
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| Marsh Wren |
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| Red-winged Blackbird with fledgling |
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| Semi-palmated Sandpipers |
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| Cicada Killer Wasp |
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| Boardwalk at Heinz NWR |
Tuesday, August 09, 2016
Plum Island Highlights
From our morning on Plum Island, my favorite photo is this Common Tern carrying food ...
In the most interesting category is this Ring-billed Gull. Dark wing-tips on primary feathers strengthen the feathers where the stress from flying is greatest. Note how the ends of the primaries (particularly on the left wing) are curled up ...
And finally, three additional "keeper" photos ...
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| Common Tern |
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| Ring-billed Gull |
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| Greater Yellowlegs |
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| Piping Plover |
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| Least Sandpiper |
Monday, August 08, 2016
Whale Watch Highlights
Our trip to Newburyport was supposed to include a pelagic birding trip, but that was canceled and we settled for a regular whale watch. There were a few pelagic birds along the way, but they were too distant for good photographs.
As always, some of the most interesting photo are serendipitous ... unplanned, and even unknown until reviewed as the fact, as with the passing Common Tern in this photo of a Hump-backed Whale
The whale watching was quite good, with "Owl," a 30 year old Hump-backed Whale doing a series of picturesque dives ...
In the estuary of the Merrimack River, the outflow met the in-coming tide and stirred the fish in the water. The abundance of food at this point is evident is the number of Common Terns fishing ...
Good Birding!!
As always, some of the most interesting photo are serendipitous ... unplanned, and even unknown until reviewed as the fact, as with the passing Common Tern in this photo of a Hump-backed Whale
The whale watching was quite good, with "Owl," a 30 year old Hump-backed Whale doing a series of picturesque dives ...
In the estuary of the Merrimack River, the outflow met the in-coming tide and stirred the fish in the water. The abundance of food at this point is evident is the number of Common Terns fishing ...
Good Birding!!