April 9, 2011 Trip to local pond

On a tip from a local birding expert, Steve and I set out to look for some Great Blue Heron nests near a pond not far from where we live. 

The pond has quite a few pairs of nesting Canada Geese.

And Herons!

It wasn't long before we saw a nest!

It was about a quarter of a mile off, across a swampy area with some vernal pools. We saw a few interesting things along the way:

Large vernal pool

Heron tracks!

Raptor pellet that Steve scooped up off the ground.

Pellet, broken open. Lots of hair and some small bones

Tiny stream and Skunk Cabbage

Broken Canada Goose eggs, probably stolen from a nest by a fox or raccoon.

Yellow Spotted Salamander, Steve found under a rotten old log.

Not sure what kind of fungus....looks like a brain!

There are geese in the back!

Deer leg bone

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, the nest, and as a bonus, the Heron stayed in it for pictures!

 

 

We hope to get back there soon to see if the baby geese have hatched and to see if there are any signs of Herons sitting on eggs! There was another nest, it looked somewhat sparse, and there were no Herons near it. Those were the only 2 we saw. But according to my bird friend, there used to be and entire rookery of nests there in years past. 

It's just never going to end....

SO, I was just preparing to answer Lolly's post about the lightning when all of a sudden....

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!