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 migration
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
Photos and Commentary
Robin, a blog reader, sent me this after reading "Hooded Bliss," "Wonderful photos and commentary. You taught me new things about the hoodies. Thanks so much for sharing!" I always like it when readers tell me they learned something from the blog. I also like it when they provide me with good ideas for titles! … Continue reading Photos and Commentary
Great Blue to Best Quality
I wrapped up "A Close Encounter," a blog I published midday on 10/16, with these words: "Any day now, the [young Green Heron] will make it’s first trip, its maiden voyage, from the breeding grounds where it was born to its wintering grounds. It’ll probably leave during the night. I’ll revisit the lakeshore a few … Continue reading Great Blue to Best Quality
A Close Encounter
Since a number of you enjoyed my recent Green Heron photos and the unusual story I shared on 10/14, I thought I'd throw together an impromptu post to fill you in on the details. I've been tracking a juvenile Green Heron that's spending time along the shore of Gifford Pinchot Lake in York, Pennsylvania. The … Continue reading A Close Encounter
Old Friends
My last blog, and final Virginia blog, was "A Tale of Seven Birds." I could have called this one "A Tale of Four." It's a story about 4 birds and my assorted adventures photographing them. It's also a quick read. You'll see why in a moment. I've referred to birds as markers, fellow travelers, nature's … Continue reading Old Friends
A Tale of Seven Birds
The Carolina Wren featured in "Some Elements of a Good Photo" signaled the end of the COVID-19 state of emergency. But, it didn't know about the Delta variant and the return to mask mandates. The Common Yellowthroat never has to give mask mandates a second thought. It's forever attired in a black one. I wrote … Continue reading A Tale of Seven Birds
The Birds of Spring
Many of you enjoyed the Carolina Wren sound recordings in the last blog. I love recording birds and listening to the results. But I especially enjoy looking at the spectrograms, where I can "see" the sounds and learn more about them. Birds' songs and calls are a lot more interesting and complex than many people … Continue reading The Birds of Spring
New Beginnings
We ended "A Late Winter's Tale" with a joke book recommendation. BTW, I hope some of you ordered Wayne's book. We'll begin this one with an edited/accessorized version of a photo that appeared at the end of "Finding Humor, Finding Birds." One of the wonderful things about digital photos is that you can alter them. … Continue reading New Beginnings
It’s All About Light
You know it's getting later in the fall when Yellow-crowned Night Herons have left the Mid-Atlantic, Red-tailed Hawk numbers are peaking at Cape May, and neighbors are soliciting fellow neighbors for unwanted pumpkins. An immature YCNH hung on in Chesapeake, VA until the end of October. Pardon me for using the alpha code there, but … Continue reading It’s All About Light
Elizabeth River Bird Blog 