Every Bit of Wild

I'd like to begin with a few personal sketches. An Unusual Discovery My wife and I are committed birders. In our backyard, we provide birds with food, water, and places to nest and take cover. We also have a "yard list" of 77 species—the number of bird species that we've observed or heard on, near, … Continue reading Every Bit of Wild

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The Scuffletown Creek Hunters, Cont’d

Many loved Joanne Howl's touching European Starling story in "A Life Lesson." One reader commented that it wasn't just a story about starlings, it was a "lesson about prejudice." I responded that she'd made a great point. Another reader commented that starlings were "hoodlums." I responded, "WE might be the real hoodlums." I don't think … Continue reading The Scuffletown Creek Hunters, Cont’d

The Scuffletown Creek Hunters

Scuffletown Creek, an Elizabeth River tributary in Chesapeake, VA, was a mess. I wrote about it in "The Same River Twice." Dave and Lindsay, two old-timers who grew up nearby, remember houseboats in the creek, homes with outhouses lining the creek, and sewage and diesel fuel flowing into the creek. They remember tapping the creek … Continue reading The Scuffletown Creek Hunters

Coexisting

In my last blog, "More Bird Notes," I referred to the Common Yellowthroat, a New World wood warbler, as the "raccoon warbler." I also referred to the Brown Thrasher as the "chirpa chirpa bird." I received a few questions about the name, "raccoon warbler," since I'd presented a photo of a younger female that bore … Continue reading Coexisting

Anatomy of a Photo Shoot

I have a lot of fun putting these blogs together. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy creating them. We're going to take a closer look at a series of photos I took in Chesapeake, Virginia on the morning of 7/7/20. But before we do that, I'd like to share with … Continue reading Anatomy of a Photo Shoot

Talkin’ More Bird Photography

Happy Independence Day, America! And am I grateful to be living in the "the greatest country on God's green earth." Green Heron Nestling Some of you have seen this bird photo before. I took it on 7/1/20 at what has now become one of my patches: Lakeside Park in Chesapeake, VA. My main patch continues … Continue reading Talkin’ More Bird Photography