'On The Waterfront"

Excellent shots Linth!

Linthicum - were these photos taken at Blackwater? Scenery looks familiar.
I was at Ft. Smallwood Park a couple times this week - saw a whitethroated
sparrow & a towhee. Ranger Matt said there's a flock of about 100 cedar
waxwings there; I could hear them but couldn't see them. At one point, a bald
eagle was circling close overhead. I had dopped my beagle Sophie's leash
to steady my binoculars. The eagle seemed to tilt it's head for a better look, then seemed to realize it was a dog & not lunch. Sophie was oblivious! It was way
cool to see the eagle so close.

Carol, early in the thread, the photos were taken at Bombay Hook, DE. Most of the duck photos were taken on the Cambridge, MD waterfront. The latter photos (and Bald Eagle) were taken at Blackwater yesterday. The Killdeer photos were actually taken at Fort Smallwood. The Hooded Merganser pair was taken at Down's Park. Cedar Waxwings tend to be very nomadic. They come and they go ..... Bald Eagles visit Fort Smallwood each year and maybe stick around for a week or two but have never nested. I wonder if the Osprey will re-build their nest there that was blown down last year. Make sure that you visit Down's Park when the Osprey arrive.

On my way home yesterday, I pulled into Sandy Point State Park to see if any deer were out. It was starting to get dark, so I stopped the car and adjusted my camera for low light. Well, I screwed up and way over compensated. Little did I know what I was about to see .... a piebald white-tail buck. The shutter speed was too slow, the ISO too high, etc., etc. Anyway, you can at least tell what it is. I'm surprised he still has last year's antlers.

Linth, You really get around! Still a nice pic.

Linth, so glad you take your camera to those interesting places and are kind enough to take pictures and post so that the rest of can also enjoy. I went for a drive yesterday up into the hills, saw several hawks at some distance. Did see 5 Hungarian Partridges in the road. On the way home when I got back to the river I saw what I had seen before, but wasn't sure . Now I can be fairly certain it is a large Bald Eagle nest. No road any closer than I was, but it is built fairly high in a large tree, looks to be more than 4 feet in diameter. there was an eagle on a limb just above the nest and another in the nest. If we ever get another somewhat sunny day I will go back and try to get a picture.

Donna

Thanks, pelle. As I'm sure you know, if one really searches they will generally find lots of excellent birding sites within close proximity to their residence. I haven't traveled more than a 1-2 hour drive for the majority of my photos. But, for variety, I believe that you must move around. For example, in 23 years at my current residence, I have never seen an Eastern Bluebird. If I go 10-15 miles down the road, I see lots of bluebirds. My main objective has been to photograph as many birds, seen in Maryland, that I can. To date, I have 127 on my Pbase photo gallery that provide a good representation of the particular specie. I've got a long way to go and 99% of them will never be in my backyard.

Donna, I hope you did, indeed, find an eagle nest and do get to photograph them. God paints in many colors, shapes and landscapes and digital imagery provides a way for us to enjoy the beauties of nature, forever. Best of luck !

I particularly like this photo because of the inclusion of the blue morph with the white morph Snow Geese. The blue variant is obviously less common than the white Snow Goose.

That's a wonderful photo!

Thanks, pelle.

How can good news also be bad news ? Such is the case of the Snow Goose. This is an excerpt from a recent newspaper article citing the bad news.

"Populations of snow geese have grown to historic highs, and their feeding has negatively impacted natural vegetation found in coastal marshlands during breeding, migration and winter.

"The overabundance of snow geese, which nest in far northern regions of North America, is harming their fragile Arctic breeding habitat," said Bryan Swift, Department of Environmental Conservation bird biologist. "Returning the snow goose population to sustainable levels is necessary to protect this delicate habitat, and every species dependent on it."

According to the DEC, the Atlantic Flyway population of snow geese increased from approximately 50,000 birds in the mid-1960s to more than one million birds in recent years. Most of these birds pass through New York during spring and fall migrations and spend the winter in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland".

Thus begins the banter as to how best this problem can be resolved. What I view through my camera lens provides a positive image but unseen by most is the complications that can and do develop through over-population. I trust a balance can be achieved in addressing this complex issue.

For now, I will take advantage of the visual perspectives achieved through the medium of my camera and lens. It sends a powerful message.

I really like your killdeer photos - how they actually show the red eye ring. Great!

Linthicum, very interesting ab out the (overpopulation) of Snow Geese. We have had the same problem with Canada Geese, especially on Golf Courses near water.

I did go back yesterday to look at the Eagle Nest, no eagles and it is impossible for me to get closer. I did take a couple of pictures anyway. Will post.

Donna

Here is the picture of the Eagle Nest, it is right along the edge of the Okanogan River.
Donna

Well, I finally succeeded in tracking down Snow Goose neck collar PF40 shown in Photo #4 at the beginning of this thread.

This particular Greater Snow Goose is an adult female and was banded in August, 2007 at Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada. Bylot Island is about 2,300 miles from where I photographed PF40. Since then, I have been able to photograph four (4) more neck collars and successfully identify where they were banded. They are all part of a joint collaboration between the Université Laval in Quebec, CN and the Canadian Wildlife Service. The others were banded at Île-aux-oies, Quebec, Canada.

Oh Linth that's great to get that information on them! It at least would make me feel closer to them.

Since I continue to spend time "On the Waterfront", I chose to add some of my recent photos to this thread rather than start a new one. Last Sunday and Monday, I spent some time at the Chincoteague NWR, Assateague Seashore, Ocean City, MD and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Last year, I made this trip in April which, I believe is a little better time-frame. But, one never knows what they may encounter along the way, at any time of the year.

I was able to add a few new species to my personal photo gallery plus a few shorebirds, yet to be properly identified.

My most notable sighting was that of a 'Marbled Godwit'. In the mid-Atlantic states they are considered scarce to rare. So, needless to say, I was ecstatic to be able to photograph a small flock.

That IS neat!

Another specie that I had hoped to photograph (and did) was that of the Brant. I had not seen a Brant for quite a few years despite not being considered rare. They breed in the high Arctic of Alaska and Canada during the summer months and winter along both coasts from Alaska to Mexico and Massachusetts to North Carolina. They are smaller than the Canada Goose. This photo was taken in the Ocean City, MD inlet.

Although nothing to brag about, these two (2) photographs represent #129 and #130 of different bird species here in the mid-Atlantic region where I have able to capture decent representation.

Wonderful pics Linth! Love the Godwit!

They are both great shots and I also love the Godwit...what a cool looking bird!

Thanks. This is a male Boat-tailed Grackle. Although common along the coast, it is the first one that I have photographed - #131.

The Great Egrets are heading north. I saw a few of them on this trip. I liked this photo because of the neck shadow on his left wing.

A nice flock of White Pelicans. Although I see them frequently at Blackwater, I just can't get a close-up. They keep their distance from me !!!

Another 'Great Egret' photo taken at Chincoteague ......

An in-flight adult Bald Eagle at Blackwater at 700mm ......

A nesting pair of Bald Eagles at Chincoteague sitting among a grove of trees. I had difficulty seeing them with the naked eye and if not for someone scoping the area, I would have missed them.

Great shots Linth! Love the Great Egret in flight and the Eagles!

Thanks, Pelle.

Here's a male Northern Shoveler at Chincoteague .........

A Red-breasted Merganser in transitional coloration, at Chincoteague.

A Green-winged Teal pair also at Chincoteague ........

A Great Blue Heron, at Assateague National Seashore .....

A pair of Buffleheads in Ocean City, bayside at 32nd Street.

Wonderful, Linth. Nice shots of the Egrets. I love the Eagles in the tree.

What a great variety! Thanks for sharing them with us Linth!

WOW Linth what a great series of photos...don't know which is my favorite although I am partial to the eagles!!

Linth, wonderful photos. Nice that you were able to add some new to your life list.
Really liked the Marbled Godwit and the Brandt. Never saw good photos of those before. There were and still are a few Eagles here along the Okanogan River. But not many other water birds, well quite a lot of geese, and Golden Eyes. Thank you for taking the time to post the photos so we all get to enjoy what you see with your camera.

donna

Thanks, all ........

I have a few more waterfront bird photos from last weekend. I visited Ocean City, MD with the goal of seeing and photographing an "Eared Grebe" that had been seen there for a couple of days. Unfortunately, the only ones present were 'Horned Grebes'. They look very similar but can be distinguished by their bill shape and the Horned Grebe has a white tip on the bill. So, here are two photos of a 'Horned Grebe' in different stages of plumage.

A second photo of the 'Horned Grebe' starting its breeding plumage.

I only saw two (2) 'Laughing Gulls' on this trip so I assume they're on their way north.

This is a 'Herring Gull' .............

'Greater Yellowlegs'

A 'Common Loon' in the Ocean City Inlet.