Cedar Waxwing takes a bath...
11 years ago
Monday, June 8, 2009
The Morning walk....
One of Saturdays many bird sightings was a visit from this young Orchard Oriole! I was told he was a first spring male, recognized by the black bib down to his chest. He certainly had a lot to say...so early in the morning. What a nice way to start a morning walk!
Friday, June 5, 2009
In my neck of the woods!
Recently when looking through my photo library..I noticed that many of the pictures I have taken in the last few weeks.. kind of have a theme...a weird neck theme! Uck!! Was I subconsciously thinking 'neck' because I've had a pain in mine due to trying to catch a glimpse of those tree-top warblers? I'm not sure, but tom the turkey was the first "neck pix"... That little pony tail hanging from the bottom of his neck is his beard!! What a crazy place for a beard!!
...and then there was this little deer who was carrying a radio-collar around its neck.. she was successfully ignoring me as I was peeking at her.... ah ..neck!!
And what about these Cormorants? They seem to twist, bend and contort their long necks in their quest to preen and or maybe show their respect to the perched bird on the left?? I thought the one in the middle was going to fall off the log as he twisted and turned his neck..
...and then there are those wonderful Red-eyed Vireos who bend their little necks and belt out those crystal-clear sharp notes... which seem to hang in the air forever..
...and why is Mr Oriole tilting his head and looking at me with that puzzled look?? ah..maybe because I am trying to imitate part of his song and he JUST can't believe that anyone could make such horrible sounds?? I've, now, become the pain in the neck!!
Some birds, like the Green Heron, only share that they have those long colorful necks when they want to look down into the water for lunch!!
and speaking of stick out their neck...here is one of our little Black-capped Chickadees getting ready to fly the coop!! He sat there teetering for about 20 minutes before Mom and Dad coaxed him out for his first flight. Isn't he just adorable..with his messed up hair do and that open mouth look on his face? He flew into the nearest tree, to be with Mom, Dad and Bro and I'm just hoping that the family does well and...dare I say, stays in my neck of the woods!
...and then there was this little deer who was carrying a radio-collar around its neck.. she was successfully ignoring me as I was peeking at her.... ah ..neck!!
And what about these Cormorants? They seem to twist, bend and contort their long necks in their quest to preen and or maybe show their respect to the perched bird on the left?? I thought the one in the middle was going to fall off the log as he twisted and turned his neck..
...and then there are those wonderful Red-eyed Vireos who bend their little necks and belt out those crystal-clear sharp notes... which seem to hang in the air forever..
...and why is Mr Oriole tilting his head and looking at me with that puzzled look?? ah..maybe because I am trying to imitate part of his song and he JUST can't believe that anyone could make such horrible sounds?? I've, now, become the pain in the neck!!
Some birds, like the Green Heron, only share that they have those long colorful necks when they want to look down into the water for lunch!!
and speaking of stick out their neck...here is one of our little Black-capped Chickadees getting ready to fly the coop!! He sat there teetering for about 20 minutes before Mom and Dad coaxed him out for his first flight. Isn't he just adorable..with his messed up hair do and that open mouth look on his face? He flew into the nearest tree, to be with Mom, Dad and Bro and I'm just hoping that the family does well and...dare I say, stays in my neck of the woods!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
The Chat, Gnat, Cat and Kit post!!
What a delight to finally see this Yellow-Breasted Chat! They say he is the largest warbler with quite a big bill and a long tail!! His call is quite amusing..he makes several different sounds, similar to a mocking bird or a thrasher. I heard him in the brushy tangles...and it was several minutes before he decided to make his appearance. I had seen pictures of him in my bird guides but I don't think I was ready for how big he was compared to all the other tiny warblers I had seen this Spring!Quite a handsome fellow with that bright lemony upper belly and throat!
On the way home I was happy to see the Gnatcatcher carrying a worm to the nest. I believe it is Mr G ...but I wasn't able to see any little tiny mouths stretching to get that worm..so maybe it was for the Mrs... I stared and stared trying to see...
but when I saw the look I was getting...I decided it was best to move on ;-0
Some times it just fun to watch an animal or a bird deal with the little problems of the day.. this poor Gray Catbird couldn't decide which leaf to choose..he had several in his bill before he finally settled on this one..I did wonder what the criteria was..
...and this cute little Red Fox kit was just too tired to move, as I walked near by...that good ole log and that sun just felt too good to give up! He kept me in his sights but by the time I left he had a good case of the yawns...hmmm, I wonder where Mom was?
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Blinded!!
As I peeked into the bird blind..guess who was peeking back...a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak!
Such welcomed colors to see on an overcast-cold morning!! I have seen this bird from a far but never so close at hand!! Wow!!
He seemed like he was a little hesitant to leave the wire and explore the ground..he would lean into a position like he was going to fly and then straighten back up. Maybe my presence made him a little apprehensive about staying...
He never did explore the grounds at the blind..but opted to fly further back into the brush and find something among the leaves.. it was then I noticed someone was with him..
At first I thought it was a finch..but then I noticed he flew around her and she gave him her fullest attention. Later, she left him to munch among the leaves, while she gathered those all important diy materials!
Such welcomed colors to see on an overcast-cold morning!! I have seen this bird from a far but never so close at hand!! Wow!!
He seemed like he was a little hesitant to leave the wire and explore the ground..he would lean into a position like he was going to fly and then straighten back up. Maybe my presence made him a little apprehensive about staying...
He never did explore the grounds at the blind..but opted to fly further back into the brush and find something among the leaves.. it was then I noticed someone was with him..
At first I thought it was a finch..but then I noticed he flew around her and she gave him her fullest attention. Later, she left him to munch among the leaves, while she gathered those all important diy materials!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Another Mother 2 b..
I would like to welcome two little Blue-gray Gnatcatchers to our neighborhood! This is the little lady below getting ready to pull off some fragments of that cocoon to add to her nest. Gnatcatchers are tiny birds but their size tells you nothing about their unbelievable abilities to create an amazing nest!
This is the handsome Mr G. He has been working with the Mrs. helping to build their tiny, tiny nest in a spindly little tree not too far from the side of the road. The nest is situated about 20 feet above the road's surface.
Lucky for them that several spiders have chosen to build their webs close by as the Gnatcatchers probably used some of this silky material to help attach their nest to the tree limbs. You might have to click on this pic to see the web..
They slaved approx 4 days to built this (2 x 2 1/2 inch) nest. So tiny!! Each carrying little pedals of cocooned ivy and intertwining them with what looks like bits of spider web, cocoon matter and plant fiber. All the nesting materials were laced together extremely well. (click to enlarge)
What a construction crew these two have been. I feel pretty lucky to have seen this. Two little birds working from sun up to sun down..pulling, pushing, tweaking...weaving...
..getting their "home" ready. Today you can see the Mrs. sitting in that little cup with her long tail pointed up one side and the tip of her bill pointing up the other! Another Mother I don't want to bother ...but I do hope all goes well for this little bird family. It would be rather nice to have some Gnatcatcher youngsters flitting around the neighborhood!
This is the handsome Mr G. He has been working with the Mrs. helping to build their tiny, tiny nest in a spindly little tree not too far from the side of the road. The nest is situated about 20 feet above the road's surface.
Lucky for them that several spiders have chosen to build their webs close by as the Gnatcatchers probably used some of this silky material to help attach their nest to the tree limbs. You might have to click on this pic to see the web..
They slaved approx 4 days to built this (2 x 2 1/2 inch) nest. So tiny!! Each carrying little pedals of cocooned ivy and intertwining them with what looks like bits of spider web, cocoon matter and plant fiber. All the nesting materials were laced together extremely well. (click to enlarge)
What a construction crew these two have been. I feel pretty lucky to have seen this. Two little birds working from sun up to sun down..pulling, pushing, tweaking...weaving...
..getting their "home" ready. Today you can see the Mrs. sitting in that little cup with her long tail pointed up one side and the tip of her bill pointing up the other! Another Mother I don't want to bother ...but I do hope all goes well for this little bird family. It would be rather nice to have some Gnatcatcher youngsters flitting around the neighborhood!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
A world lost...
It was his take off that caught my eye! I heard the swoop of its feathers and saw him move at the edge of a dead tree which was standing in the middle of a small man-made island..
..he lifted off with grace and soared around the tree..his call a loud whistled.. kyew kyew!!
and then there were two, she/he came from somewhere behind us...and we just stood there and watched in awe!!
We were walking the Villas, in New Jersey, near Cape May. Believe it or not this place is an abandoned golf resort which was once known as Ponderlodge. It was built in 1991 and covers 253 acres. The state of NJ purchased the golf course, I believe several years ago, and decided to let it go back to its natural state!! Miles of paved pathways twist and wind around the once groomed greens and fairways. It was near the lake that we watched these two osprey soar and hunt for their lunch...putting on quite a show. The lighting definitely wasn't in my favor...but from this washed photo you can still see the fish he had just scooped out of the lake!!
In its heyday this must have been quite a resort...most of the buildings are still standing but in complete decay. Nature, in every form, has all but taken over most of the buildings. It is definitely eerie to walk around and try to imagine that this land had once been a professionally groomed golf course. One can see birds and other small animals which are now nesting/living within the lodges and other utility buildings..
...the ponds are now overgrown and have tons of frogs, tadpoles, toads and other wild life living in and around them.
There are fields of wildflowers and color everywhere...quite a nature lovers delight...
one can see matching Yellow-rumped warblers..playing hide and seek from a fool and her camera...
and if you are lucky, maybe even a Painted Lady will visit you as you stroll its overgrown paths.. that seem to go on and on...leaving you with the impression that you are not near a city called Cape May but in a 253 acre world lost to the wilds of nature at its best.
..he lifted off with grace and soared around the tree..his call a loud whistled.. kyew kyew!!
and then there were two, she/he came from somewhere behind us...and we just stood there and watched in awe!!
We were walking the Villas, in New Jersey, near Cape May. Believe it or not this place is an abandoned golf resort which was once known as Ponderlodge. It was built in 1991 and covers 253 acres. The state of NJ purchased the golf course, I believe several years ago, and decided to let it go back to its natural state!! Miles of paved pathways twist and wind around the once groomed greens and fairways. It was near the lake that we watched these two osprey soar and hunt for their lunch...putting on quite a show. The lighting definitely wasn't in my favor...but from this washed photo you can still see the fish he had just scooped out of the lake!!
In its heyday this must have been quite a resort...most of the buildings are still standing but in complete decay. Nature, in every form, has all but taken over most of the buildings. It is definitely eerie to walk around and try to imagine that this land had once been a professionally groomed golf course. One can see birds and other small animals which are now nesting/living within the lodges and other utility buildings..
...the ponds are now overgrown and have tons of frogs, tadpoles, toads and other wild life living in and around them.
There are fields of wildflowers and color everywhere...quite a nature lovers delight...
one can see matching Yellow-rumped warblers..playing hide and seek from a fool and her camera...
and if you are lucky, maybe even a Painted Lady will visit you as you stroll its overgrown paths.. that seem to go on and on...leaving you with the impression that you are not near a city called Cape May but in a 253 acre world lost to the wilds of nature at its best.
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