Daily Photos - Page 298

So many great photos in the previous thread! But it's time to move on!
We came from here... http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1081004/

My family and I travelled to Blackwater NWR in Cambridge, MD last Saturday, for the 10th annual Eagle Festival. I had looked forward to this trip for weeks, and had prayed for 60 degrees and sunshine! Well... I got half my wish anyway! It was almost 60 degrees, but it rained. And rained, and rained and rained! For photography, it was dark and drizzly, so I didn't get much outdoors. Blackwater is known for their eagle population, as many of you know... and I did see eagles! I had seen wild eagles in the past, but I had never photographed them. This is my first eagle shot!

Bald Eagle landing in a tree...

So we spent most of the day indoors, and under the tents! That's OK though... there was plenty to see and do, and to photograph! Several groups had captive birds on display and in presentations. These are beautiful, well cared for birds that have been previously injured and cannot be returned to the wild. Each one has a story, though some I did not get to know their story. I did try to photograph them all, and I would like to share them with you!

This is "Zool", an Eurasian Eagle Owl. Zool is not a previously injured owl, but simply an ambassador for such presentations. They are not native to North America. He's huge and quite a looker!

A Great Horned Owl - male. I only know that he was hit by a car.

A Red-tailed Hawk - female...
She was stunning, and had the saddest story of all. She flew into power lines and broke her left wing. The people who found her did not take her to a vet or rehab facility, but decided they would keep her as a pet in a screend-in porch! When they were discovered and turned into authorities, she was finally turned over to the rehab facility that has her now, but it was too late to fix her wing. They said had she been seen and fixed in the beginning, she could have returned to the wild.

Here's another view of her...

Now for my favorite! I have been reading up on and searching for barn owls for several weeks now, so that I might photograph one, with no luck! I was so thrilled to find out they had one at the festival! This made my whole trip worthwhile! What a beauty! I never tire of looking at them!

Barn Owl - female

Our thrill didn't end there! My oldest daughter loves owls and has read alot about them too. She was able to answer so many of the questions posed by the handler, that the woman surprised us all by letting Jess put the glove on and hold the barn owl for a few minutes! My daughter was so excited and it made her day. I know she will never forget it!

This is Jessie and "Buttercup"

This message was edited Mar 18, 2010 12:07 AM

Eastern Screech Owl - red phase - male...
He was hit by a car and suffered a brain injury. Just as calm and cute as can be! His handler said "Lights on, nobody home."

Eastern Screech Owl - brown phase - female
She is completely blind in both eyes (why she won't look up). She is buddies with the little guy above, and enjoys cuddling with him!

One more Eastern Screech Owl - red phase
Hit by a car and obviously blind in left eye. Reminds me of a pirate with a patch on!

A Broad-shouldered Hawk...

A Raven - male...
He's been with this group a while and can supposedly talk. These birds are HUGE in person!

And lastly...

American Kestrel - male

Beautiful birds!

American Kestrel - female

Wild_Rose, what a fantastic start to the new thread. Great shot of the Bald Eagle. Congratulations. What fabulous birds on educational display. The look on your daughter's face says it all.

My first Bluebird nesting box.
Today I put up a nesting box for Bluebirds. In less than 10 minutes, Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird had found the box and had begun defending their territory. It is very rewarding to make an effort on the behalf of wildlife and to see how clearly needed the effort was. A Chickadee was also interested, but the Bluebirds ruled. Since I am very partial to Chickadees, a new small nesting box is on the way.

Great shots VA! Love the Eagle Landing; great job! The one with your daughter is priceless! Love the educational raptors too. I'm so glad you had a good time despite the weather.
Thanks so much for starting the new thread!

On the last thread, wonderful pics from Nanny and GP!

Congratulations Gazer! Sweet pic.

Awesome first Eagle shot! Beautiful birds, but such sad stories.....as wonderful as it is to see these birds, can you imagine how thrilling it would be to see them in the wild? So glad these injured birds are so well taken care of and can help educate people. That first Eastern Screech Owl is adorable. They should make a stuffed toy that looks just like him.

Nice landing shot of the Bald Eagle, Va_Wild_Rose. That is one of their favorite spots to sit.

You also took some nice photos of the birds of prey. They will also have an Open House later on in the year which is very similar to this program. On occasion they have other guests, namely, the Spectacled Owl (South America), Peregrine Falcon, Gyrfalcon, Bald Eagle and Turkey Vulture. Always something new to encourage you to come back.

I'm sure that your daughter enjoyed holding "Buttercup". They don't allow that too often. It's a shame about all of the rain. I was there the week before when the weather was nice. I just enjoy parking along the wildlife drive, get out and just take in the surrounding sights and sounds.

Y'all come back !!!

Love the birds of prey start!

Here is a song sparrow from a couple days ago. I guess all the spring birds will start trickling in now… which I love to see.

Here's another shot, just because I have it.

Nice ones Mrs Ed!

VWR, what a great start to a new thread! Thank you, every pic. is beautiful, but one with your daughter is one to treasure! Spring is around the corner. I'm too- excited that spring is almost here. Marna, we have those similiar sparrows here, they frequently comb the grass for bugs (I think) for they are rarely seen around the grains feeder.

My Baltimore Oriole is still here (yesterday pic.), I hope she has stored up some energy for a long journey up North.

On the last thread,
GP, love the back-end view of your jay!LOL

Adel, congrats on the new hummer. Great shot of the swallow too.

Nanny, beautiful jay and love that mocker photo. That wp is gorgeous, and good job with the hawk.

Wild Rose, wonderful start for us and excellent photos of the eagle, owls and hawks. I'll be seeing a similar presentation at our festival next month and am anxious to see these birds. Isn't it sad that people think that injured birds don't need help from a qualified professional? That photo with your daughter is "priceless"!

Gazergirl, congratulations on the new home for your BBs. They're beautiful.

Mrs Ed, your sparrow is adorable.

We took a ride along the north end of our lake to check the Osprey nests put there by our local electric company. One nest had the makings of a nest with no birds in sight, but the other one had a pair sitting in theirs. Still going through my photos, but had to show you this guy/girl looking down at me. Sure wish I'd been able to get above the nest like Margaret did, but it's not possible.

How awsome that Osprey's nest is! Thank Duc for sharing your wonderful experience with us. It's delight to watch nature unfolding in front of our eyes; here goldfinch's plumage is changing as cherry are putting forth swollen flowering buds, and Weeping Willows just barely breaking dormancy.

WOW....that opening shot is totally awesome Rose! All your shots are....and so cool about your daughter!

Here is a Barn Owl cam....she may already know about this tho! It has sound too.

http://www.ustream.tv/theowlbox

I love watching the Red-bellied Woodpeckers on the ground!

Great pics guys!

Thats an excellent nest box cam!

It is a nice one...however some of the chat gets OT and gets offensive to some. So that might be something to watch as far as kids....didn't think about that when I posted! Sad that people have ruin these things.

ha. that's a very sleepy owl. i always make my window just large enough for the video. I dont' need to be confused any further (hee) by a chat window!

Lily, love your photos of the buds and goldfinch. Glad the buds are beginning to open for you. What an exciting time of year for all of us.

Nanny, love that red-bellied! Thanks for the Owl Cam. I just counted 5 eggs in there!! I don't even bother to read about the chat windows because of bad mouthed people in the past. I will, however, enjoy watching the cam.

One of the Bewick's Wrens. They're traveling around in pairs here. I do hope to see a young one later.

Here's one of the other Bewick's Wrens.

Oops, forgot to add the photo. Sorry.

Think I have about 6 remaining Dark eyed Juncos left.

A White crowned Sparrow-one of many that enjoy the peanut butter log.

Duc, Very nice pics of the Wrens and others!

Thanks for the comments everyone! I am still on cloud nine from being able to see so many beautiful raptors in one place. Jessie did love it and I made her a photo album she could take to school and show her teachers and friends.

Charlie... I will most certainly be back to Blackwater! We loved it there and can't wait to see more when weather is nicer. I got a really good shot of a nearly white Delmarva Fox Squirrel that day too. I posted it in the latest squirrel pics thread in the Wildlife forum.

Nice Song Sparrow Mrs_Ed.

Duc... that is a nice osprey platform.

Nanny... good one of the red-bellied. Hubby has been trying to get good pics of our female. And thanks for that Barn Owl cam! I have two cams saved, but I didn't have this one, and she has eggs! Wow!

I can't believe that eagle is going to land on that stick of a tree. Very cool shot VA_Wild_Rose especially given the weather!
Cute sparrow Mrs. Ed.
Duc loved the osprey and that wren is really cute.
Gazergirl, I can't believe they found your nest box so fast. I never see bluebirds, but I have nest boxes up for other birds. They totally ignore them. The wrens keep insisting on nesting in my wall planter and about killing my favorite bromiliad despite the two perfect nest boxes that I've offered them! Maddening.

This Cooper's Hawk tried to get breakfast at my feeder, but he missed out.

That is quite a start for the new thread Va. the raptors are beautiful. This will be an experience your daughter will never forget.

Gazergirl..best of luck with the Blues..they are such a joy!

Nice reminder of spring Mrs. Ed.

Lily...I'm still waiting for you to send that Oriole north!!

Thanks for the link Nanny...too cool. Cute Red-bellied too!

Duc..beautiful shots...love the Eagle and the Bewick's...hope they nest for you.

It is a lovely sunny day today..I am watching all the birds and seeing lots of courting and fighting!! There are two pairs of Blues in the yard, one pair has already built their nest and the other pair is checking out the other nest box...spring is in the air!

We cross posted Elphaba...oh my...that is a gorgeous Hawk!!

Nanny, nice red-bellied. I always get nervous when they are on the ground. I guess they are as vulnerable on the ground as in a tree. It just seems like they are less coordinated on the ground. I've been trying to take pics of my pair, but no luck lately. They seem to have doubled in size and gotten a lot more elusive. I'm sure that's my imagination too.

Rose, amazing that we posted in the same minute! Afterwards, I went outside and took this pic of a female red-winged blackbird.