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: Wildlife photography fieldcraft
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
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
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 Special Moment
Let's start with a few words, then our story about a special moment. I know I harp on fieldcraft. The word figures into the title of several of my blogs, and I've used the word or touched on some of the skills involved many times. For example, I recently quoted Melissa Groo, who said that … Continue reading A Special Moment
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
Capturing Moments
I ended my last blog, "Old Friends," with the following quote: "And when confronted by a seemingly alien place, say a desert or mountain tundra, the birds carry me from confusion to understanding." The idea that birds can carry us from confusion to understanding is an intriguing and powerful one. Human Activity Folks have asked … Continue reading Capturing Moments
The Joy of Discovery
I began "A Few Words About Birds" this way: "A recent opinion piece in The Virginian-Pilot, Virginia’s largest daily newspaper, began with the words: 'First of all, thank you for reading.' I’d like to begin, here, the same way. First of all, thank you for reading. I mean that, sincerely." That was followed by a … Continue reading The Joy of Discovery
Finding Humor, Finding Birds
One of the things that keep us going is our ability to find humor and to laugh. It might not be a survival need (like writing), but sometimes it sure feels like it. How many times have you heard someone say, in response to something funny, "God, I needed that!" Speaking of things funny, here's … Continue reading Finding Humor, Finding Birds
Elizabeth River Bird Blog 