Refuge Images

A few images from relaxed birding trips to nearby refuges last week.

John Heinz NWR at Tinicum (Philadelphia, PA) ...

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Bombay Hook NWR (Smyrna, DE) ...

Carolina Wren

American Avocet

Semipalmated Sandpipers

Semipalmated Sandpipers

Good Birding!!

Bombay Hook NWR - Good Birding!

I made my first ever visit to Bombay Hook NWR on the Delaware Bay in Delaware. It was a delightful refuge and will merit return visits during other seasons.

For a late winter day of birding, it was a very good day, and even yielded some good photo opportunities ...

... as for example, the Belted Kingfisher, a species that has been devilishly difficult to photograph. But this female posed on branches above a canal, apparently unconcerned by the several photographers who crept around taking her picture ...

Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

Near the historical Allee House, two Black Vultures, usually seen soaring high overhead, were up close, and almost too personal ...

Black Vulture

Black Vulture

For the second time this winter, I have seen Great Horned Owl - usually at this time of year the limit of contact is their haunting hooting. Not much action from this roosting owl, save for the occasional turn of the head ...

Great Horned Owl

This young red fox hunted in the short grasses along the refuge road ...

Red Fox

And finally ... there were plenty of waterfowl in the pools and ponds, and in nearby fields, several thousand Snow Geese ...

Northern Shoveler

Snow Geese

Good Birding!!