I’ve started to watch and take photos of a male Belted Kingfisher. He's laid claim to the farm pond I visit and is there now every time I show. The Osprey family that took up residence nearby has moved on and headed south, but the kingfisher is going nowhere—at least for the time being. And … Continue reading The Kingfisher and I
Category: Bird life
Osprey Time, Part Two
This is the second and final part of a story about a south central PA Osprey pair. I believe they were new breeders. The nest they built was certainly new. They could have chosen a site anywhere along the Atlantic coast or the Chesapeake Bay, but they chose one here—in an area where they aren't … Continue reading Osprey Time, Part Two
Osprey Time
Some of what I'm about to share may be familiar to you. I've been telling the story of the Osprey pair for a while now. It's an interesting one because so few of these birds nest in south central PA (though that may be changing). It's interesting, too, because I've been given access to property … Continue reading Osprey Time
Privileged Time With Some Area Birds
I continue to be amazed at the number of people who visit here and read "A Green Heron Colony." After "A Game Changing Bird Photography Camera," a piece about the then-new Canon EOS R5 full-frame mirrorless camera, it's my most-read post. I've written a lot about other species of birds, like the Osprey and Killdeer, … Continue reading Privileged Time With Some Area Birds
Going, Knowing, and Seeing
Let's begin with a photo of a Gray Catbird. I made the mistake of writing in an earlier blog that these birds are hard to find out in the open. Not true. This adult was doing what so many do this time of year: it was gathering food to feed its young. But it was … Continue reading Going, Knowing, and Seeing
Hooded Bliss
This piece is dated, but not by much. What's recounted here took place on 4/1. From time to time we have subject birds, and the subject bird this time is the Hooded Merganser or "Hoodie." It's North America's smallest merganser and the only one that breeds and winters here. It's a species that's described as … Continue reading Hooded Bliss
A Few Sights and Sounds
What follows are a few late winter/early spring Mid-Atlantic region sights and sounds. I'd like to begin with some Red-shouldered Hawk photos, but first, here's one of a Great Blue Heron grabbing a bluegill for breakfast. I took it on the same morning I took the Red-shouldered photos. The Red-shouldered Hawk Let's go to those … Continue reading A Few Sights and Sounds
The Unsung Female
The last blog didn't go over too well. Such is life. I imagined some saying, "What does 'Water Sources and Winter Light' even mean"? If the title had been catchier or if I had worded it something like, "How to Take Advantage of Water Sources and Winter Light," the blog might have attracted more interest. … Continue reading The Unsung Female
Water Sources and Winter Light
Several readers asked me about the thrush photo in "More Photo-Worthy Moments." It was nothing special, but I chose it because it perfectly complemented the quote just above it. If you're interested, I took the photo in the woods. It was quiet, the bird was close, and it was easy to "feel that connection." The … Continue reading Water Sources and Winter Light
A Few Photo-Worthy Moments
Many readers enjoyed the American Black Duck photo in the last blog, "Be There," and several asked me about the EXIF or image file data. Here's the photo once again. And here's the data: Canon EOS R5 EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x III lens 700mm f/8 1/2000s 1600 ISO. Here, also, are some of … Continue reading A Few Photo-Worthy Moments
Elizabeth River Bird Blog 