Misc. Birds, Feb. and Mar. 2011

Feb. 20

Huge mixed flock of Red Winged Blackbirds and Brown Headed Cowbirds descended on the yard and feeders each morning for several days. Interestingly, almost all of both species were males. Only saw 2 or 3 females at any time mixed in.  This flock was much bigger than it looks, but I couldn't get it all in one shot!

 

We have a pair of Eastern Bluebirds that have been VERY interested in the nest box out in the front yard. They have been there for weeks, at least once a day checking it out.

March 12

Dad in the tree (top center in front of the middle trunk), mom on the house.

Dad

Dad

Today, March 18, the male and the female were putting on quite a show! She was following him all over the yard and trees, and he was putting on adorable displays of head bowing and wing flapping to impress her! The displays were to quick for me to get a good picture of though.

Then, Crazy Male decided that the needed to check out our windows...or rather, look IN the windows upstairs! I assume he was seeing his own reflection. But he wasn't attacking or flying into the windows, just hovering and then landing! First on to the outside wire, then onto the bedroom window, then to the tree, then to the spare room then back to the wire, and on an on!. It was hilarious, and went on for quite some time!

Crazy Male on the wire.

Then to the bedroom window

then to the spare room window

and then back to the bedroom

Doesn't it just make you wonder what goes on in those little brains......

First look at Joy! March 16, 2011, Approx. 3:05pm

Patuxent River Park, Feb. 12, 2011

We finally got our chance to go to the Patuxent River Park yesterday, where Eaglet Momster Loretta works!

Entrance sign

Visitor's Center

Bird watching Bluebird

Inside the Visitor's Center, we found these beautiful taxidermy displays,

Bald Eagle

Osprey and chicks

and the Lovely Loretta, hard at work!

After getting some guidance from her, we set out to find the eagle nest. And we did, but sadly, we couldn't see the eagles.

Talk about being "out on a limb"! This nest really is!

Prior to our arrival in the early afternoon, Loretta was able to spot and photograph an eagle(s?) in the nest when she arrived to work, and passed the picture on to me to share. Look closely under the standing eagle, the other one is behind it!

Across the bay, there is another eagle's nest. Through the binos, we could see the eagle in the nest! If you look on the left side of the picture, look across the water, above the orange buoy and in the trees, there is a tiny dark "blob". That's the nest!

We set out for a little hike, and while we didn't see too much in the way of wildlife, it was a great walk!

Jug Bay

Critter prints

Skunk Cabbage starting to grow

Me on an observation tower, WINDY!

Steps up to the observation tower.

Then I found something VERY cool! It's the remains of a deer antler that has been well chewed by little forest creatures who do so to get minerals from them. It's interesting to see the decay of the antler and all the chew marks on it.

There a several interesting buildings to check out, but they aren't open til April. This didn't stop us from having some fun!

This is called the Duckett Cabin. It' got a pretty interesting history, and for inside pics and for information, please go to

http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=6096

Steve on the front porch

the back, with little chicken coop and clothes line

Chimney

OH MY, Steve running to the outhouse!

 Then we checked out the Sears House....what a hoot! People could actually order this house from the Sears Catalog!!Took some shots through the window of the inside.

For additional information on this, please go to:

http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=6327

After our escapade, we headed back to the Visitor's Center, where the Lovely Loretta, having just finished up for the day, gave us a private big screen showing of "When Eagles Dream". It was great!

HIDEY!

Then it was time to go, so we posed for a picture in front of the Eagle in the Visitor's Center. We are looking forward to returning again soon! 

A special Thank You to Loretta, for guiding us and lending me her eagle pictures!

Spring Fever! Feb. 11, 2011

At our house, especially in the winter, the front door is rarely used. But I happened to go out that way to walk the dogs Thurs. evening, and upon returning, noticed some of my crocus were already blooming! The next day, I went out for a closer look at my messy front flower beds and found several thing starting to come up.....

Crocus

Hyacynth

Sedum

 

 

 

 And that was all I need to send me headlong into SPRING FEVER! And as I looked at my messy beds....

...there was but one thing to do. 

CLEAN THEM UP!

It only took about an hour and half to go from that to this:

And after the debris was removed, I also found my mums starting to come up!

This side of the house faces south, so it's warmer and gets more sun than the back north side (where the ground is pretty much still frozen), and I know in my mind that winter isn't REALLY over yet.....but the worst of it probably is, right?

NBG eagles. How to tell them apart.

Congowings: (moderator on NBG chat)

It is easier to see differences when they are both side by side: however, the female is larger than male, including larger feet, bigger beak (upper mandible is deeper & mouth goes back farther under eye). On this particular pair: male has a sleeker look (flatter head when feather’s aren’t ruffled), the female’s head appears rounder. When looking close, it almost looks like male has eyeliner on his eyes.