This Week at Heinz NRW

Plenty of signs at Heinz NRW that Spring is finally well entrenched. Waterfowl - except for the nesters - have moved on. Plenty of song activity from the residents or early arrivals, plus returning passerines present. A few images ...

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Palm Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warblers were not singing during mid-day, but were finally sporting their breeding finery ...

Yellow-rumped Warbler

The nesting Bald Eagles have hatched. This adult took off from the nest and flew overhead en route to the marsh and estuary for foraging ...

Bald Eagle

 This Carolina Wren was in a song duel with another nearby male ...

Carolina Wren

Mallards were on the nest. Most other ducks were gone, except for a few pairs of Green-winged Teal and a pair of Blue-winged Teal ...

Green-winged Teal (male and female)

Along the edge of the impoundment, a muskrat was foraging, while in many locations, turtles were enjoying the returning warmth of the Spring sun ...

Muskrate

Good Birding!!

Things with Wings - and Fur

This is a miscellany from our recent abbreviated trip to Philadelphia and birding environs.

I have photographed female, hatch year, and young male Blue Grosbeaks, but until my recent morning in Cape May, the adult male - a handsome specimen and melodic songster - has not come in range of my lens ...

Blue Grosbeak - adult male

Butterflies were beginning to emerge during our week in Philadelphia. The Eastern Tailed Blue (so small as to be almost a figment of the imagination) and the Silver-spotted Skipper were seen on the trails at the Schulykill Environmental Center in Philadelphia. The Spicebush Swallowtail was frequenting the butterfly garden at the Horticulture Center, West Fairmont Park, Philadelphia ...

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Silver-spotted Skipper

Spicebush Swallowtail

 In the "Fur" category, this Muskrat sidled up to the trailside in the marsh at Cape May Point State Park for a salad lunch ...

Muskrat

Muskrat

 And finally - neither winged nor furred, but fragrant and beautiful, was the wisteria in the woods of the Schulykill Center ...

Wisteria

Happy May!!