Viewing nature with Eileen: Friday Ark

Showing posts with label Friday Ark. Show all posts

Thursday, November 24, 2011

SWF>>>>Panama

I am linking up with Skywatch Friday and Friday Ark

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, I hope you have a safe and happy holiday!

These shots were from the boat ride we took thru the Panama Canal. It was a four hour ride and a very neat experience to go thru the locks and to learn the history of the Panama Canal. It was cool also to look for birds from the boat. I saw lots of Brown Pelicans, Magnificent Frigatebirds, Blue-footed Booby, Seagulls, Herons, Egrets and some White Ibis.

A vew of Panama City from the causeway.

A lifer.... the Blue-footed Booby seen while on the boat ride as we entered the canal

Every day we saw a steady stream of Vultures flying over the Panama Canal.

One of the many Brown Pelicans seen at the Panama Canal.

Bridge of the Americas

I hope you enjoyed my Panama skies and birds and to see more beautiful photos please click on my link Skywatch Friday and Friday Ark

Thanks to the host of Friday Ark and to the hosting group at Skywatch. Also, thanks for stopping by to see my post. I appreciate your visits and comments. Have a great weekend, happy skywatching and happy birding.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

More Panama Birds

I am linking up with Friday Ark and Camera Critters

These are more pic's from my birding outing with Justo of Panama's Just Adventures

Arriving a day early for our tour allowed hubby and I to go out for our day of birding. Justo took us to the Discovery Center and the famous Pipeline Road. I got 30 new lifers from our Panama trip.

These are some of the birds and a sloth we saw at the Pipeline Rd and the Rainforest Discovery Center.

Pipeline Rd sloth, the first of three sloths we saw while in Panama for the week.

Rufous Motmot a beautiful bird and one of my 30 new lifers.

Social Flycatcher....lifer

Crimson Crested Woodpecker, similiar to the Pileated Woodie I see at home. Near this same spot we saw a Black Striped Woodcreeper. I was sorry to see it fly away before I could snap a pic. Both of these birds were also lifers.

Lots of new Hummingbird lifers, like the White Necked Jacobin another lifer.

The Pipeine Road, famous spot for birding in Panama.

A group of Black Bellied Whistling ducks, these are one of my favorite ducks. At this spot we saw the ducks, GB Heron, Wattled Jacana, Ringed Kingfisher, a beautiful Blue Dacnis. I was sorry to see that my photos of these beautiful birds were just a blurry mess. But, it was still exciting to see all of these new birds.

I hope you enjoyed my birds and sloth post. I hope you all have a great weekend and Happy Birding.

I hope you can check out more birds and animals on the Friday Ark and Camera Critters. Thanks to the host of Friday Ark and to Misty Dawn of Camera Critters. I look forward to these memes and to seeing all the birds and critters.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Little Blue Heron

I am linking up with the Friday Ark and Camera Critters.. To see some wild and cute critters click on my links.

This post has more birds from Chincoteague NWR , I hope no one is tired of seeing my birds we saw lots of great birds during the three days we were there.

My favorite heron is the Little Blue Heron, next to the Green Heron. I am not sure how I can say any one bird is a favorite because I really do love them all.

This Little Blue Heron was hanging around the same spot and the same time I saw the Bald Eagles and the Merlin. It was cool to see these different birds so close together. At one time in these bushes or trees we saw the Little Blue Heron, Great Egret, Bald Eagle, Juvenile Bald Eagle. The Merlin got upset about being overcrowded and flew across the street to another tree.

This eagle was sitting just a little over from the Little Blue Heron.

And here is the Little Blue with the Great Egret. It was hard trying to get a decent photo with all the birds in one shot. And I do not think I have to mention how grey the sky is looking it is pretty obvious.

Not a good shot but at the far left is my pretty Little Blue Heron and then the bigger Great Egret and to the right of the photo and behind the Great Egret is the cute Snowy Egret. Not in view but behind the Snowy was the Bald Eagle. At this time the Merlin was sitting in the tree across the street.

I cropped this photo but the lighting is awful but now you can see all the birds. From far right the Little Blue looking like a little black speck, the Great Egret which is looking very leggy, and the smaller Snowy Egret perched behind and a little higher than the Great Egret, and last is the Bald Eagle. The next day we saw the Bald Eagle, juvenile Eagle and the Merlin all in this same spot. We watched these great birds from our car which was parked on the lot near the Tom's Cove visitor center.

On this cropped fuzzy photo I have my pretty Little Blue heron and I am pretty sure a Juvenile Little Blue. The juvenile is white but has a bi-colored bill. I do not think the egrets or juvenile egrets have a bi-colored bill. Please let me know if I am wrong.

So now that you have seen my birds you can visit the Friday Ark and Camera Critters to see more of God's beautiful critters. Thanks to the host of Friday Ark and to Misty Dawn for hosting Camera Critters.

Also, thank you for stopping by to see my post, I appreciate the comments. I hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Chincoteague Pelicans

I am link up with the Friday Ark and Camera Critters

During our visit to Chincoteague NWR last weekend we saw many groups of Pelicans flying over the ocean.

We saw many Pelicans like this early morning sighting below of a large group flying low over the ocean

After seeing the Brown Pelicans at Chincoteague I looked them up in my field guide. I was surprised to see that the Brown Pelican has also made a stunning comeback after the banning of DDT. I knew all about the eagles and DDT but I did not realize how many different birds DDT had an effect on. I am so happy it was been banned. The pelican increased in popultion in the gulf, pacific, atlantic and have expanded to include Maryland. They did have another kind of battle going on with the oil spill in the gulf. I feel sorry for the birds and animals during this time, politians and the big companies do not seem to care about the critters.

This Pelican below was perched on a rock next to the side of the road , it was seen a few days in a row in the same spot. Each time we saw this Pelican it was preening or clean its feathers.

The Brown Pelican have webbed feet and feed mostly on aquatic prey and they can dive for fish.

We watch this Pelican for a little while, he/she did not seem to mind.

The Brown Pelican is one of my favorite birds, they kind of remind me of a prehistoric bird. Very cool looking.

I hope you enjoyed my Chincoteague Pelican and

to see many more cute and wonderful critters please visit the Friday Ark and Camera Critters

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Osprey

I am linking up my Osprey post to Friday Ark and Camera Critters. Both are great memes to visit if you are an animal lover like me.

These Osprey's are from my archives, it has been a cloudy and rainy week and there has not been very many opportunities for taking new photos. I hope this rain stops so I can go out and play. Rain, Rain go away, come back some other day.

The Osprey is an awesome looking raptor and is also known as the Fish hawk. The Osprey is dark above and white below. They have a short crest and a dark eye stripe. They are 24 inches in length.

The Osprey like the Bald Eagles were once threatened by DDT. Now, they are a familiar sight on lakes, Bays and rivers. Their huge stick nests are very visable on poles, buoys and large trees.

Their diet consists of fish. They are pretty cool to watch hunting and catching their prey.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my Osprey's and to see more cool and cute critters
please visit Friday Ark and Camera Critters. Thanks to the host of the Friday Ark and to Misty Dawn for hosting Camera Critters. I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.

Friday, September 16, 2011

American Redstart

My post for the Friday Ark and Camera Critters I am showing the American Redstart. The male was seen last weekend during my bird count at the clear cut study area located at the reservoir's watershed.

I have been enjoying the warblers showing up at the reservoir and watershed near my house. The American Redstart breeds in moist and mixed deciduous woods. The male Redstart has halloween colors, mostly black and orange at its sides. I have heard the female being called the Yellowstart because she has yellow at her sides.

Below the female hiding in the bush, but if you look close you can see the yellow at her sides.

Another male perched in the bush, you can see his pretty orange side.

Another angle looking up at the male Redstarts bottom, white underneath, black head and back and bright orange at its sides.

Another female below, still far away but a little clearer photo.

For me trying to photograph any type of warbler is very hard, these little birds are so quick and bounce around on the tree limbs way too fast for me. Just when I want to snap a photo, they take off and bounce to another branch. I am happy to get any photo to record where and when I see these beautiful birds.

To see more wonderful critters, you should board the Friday Ark and
for more cute animals check out Camera Critters. Thanks to the host of the Friday Ark and to Misty Dawn for hosting Camera Critters.

I hope you enjoyed my American Redstarts and thanks for stopping by. I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Friday, September 9, 2011

My latest lifer...Cape May Warbler

For my Friday Ark and Camera Critters post I am showing my latest lifer the Cape May Warbler.

The coolest thing about my new lifer, It was seen right on the fireroad in the reservoir just across from my house. Usually I will run all around trying to add a new bird to my life list and this one practically came to me. Very NICE!

The Cape May Warblers are described to have a blackish crown, yellow eyebrow with some chestnut. A yellow throat but may have some chestnut at the throat area too. Olive green back, yellow rump, white belly and undertail and a white wing patch. Breast side and upper belly are streaked with black.

I have seen different warblers over the years at these same berries they are on the top of the plant or tree called the Devil's Walking stick, also known as Hercules Club. What names! I think the white and the purple colored berries are pretty. I was very happy to see this beautiful bird and to add another warbler to my life list. Now, I have to figure out how to grow this plant in my yard from the berries. Is this possible, does anyone know? I assume there are seeds in these berries. How cool would that be to have this plant in my yard and have all these beautiful warblers coming to eat the berries.

I hope you enjoyed my new lifer the Cape May Warbler and to see more cute and wonderful animals please visit the Friday Ark and Camera Critters. Thanks to the hosts of both the Friday Ark and Misty Dawn of Camera Critters. Thank you also for stopping by to see my post. \

I hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend and HAPPY BIRDING...

Friday, August 26, 2011

Warbler Confusion

My post for The Friday Ark and Camera Critters.

Fall time can be a confusing time for iding warblers. The summer males turn a duller color and then there are the first year warblers and the females, so many different versions of the same bird. They can make your head spin trying to id these cuties.

Last weekend during a walk here at the reservoir I came across this little yellow bird. And if Hurricane Irene does not ruin my weekend I will be out there looking for more fall Warblers. I have been following my listserve for Maryland and these lovely warblers are showing up everywhere. So get out there and go BIRDING!!!!

After help from some of my facebook friends this bird above was id as a juvenile female Hooded Warbler. I have photo of the male Hooded Warbler below.

My first thought was a Prothonotary Warbler because it was close to the lake. These warblers have been known to nest close to water.

My picture above is the Prothonoary Warbler from Magee Marsh

This is a summer male Hooded Warbler, the same bird as my first picture of the female Hooded Warbler.

And for more comparison on little Yellow birds I have below a pretty Yellow Warbler. This bird is easier for me to id because it has reddish streaks going down its front.

I hope you enjoyed my little Yellow Bird post and to see more critters

Please visit the Friday Ark and Camera Critters

Thanks to the host of the Friday Ark and to Misty Dawn for hosting these fun critter memes.

I hope everyone stays safe from Hurricane Irene and not to mention the earthquakes and aftershocks we are feeling on the East Coast. Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Birding!!!!!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Birding Bombay Hook NWR..Part II

My post for this weeks Friday Ark and Camera Critters I have some more birds from my last visit to Bombay Hook NWR. This post and birding list includes the Black-Necked Stilt, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Ibis and what I believe are a Caspian Tern (or is it a Common Tern) adult with a juvie. Also, near the Finnis Pool we saw lots of turtles.

The Black-necked Stilt is a breeding bird at Bombay Hook. So, in the summer months you can almost always see them at the refuge. They have long slender legs and black and white plumage. They forage by picking prey with their long thin bills.

We watched this juvie tern being fed by the adult. What a cute sight.

Only certain Terns have orange bills and checking out my field guide I see that the Caspian and the Royal Terns have the orange bill. I really had to crop the juvie tern photo and it is fuzzy but I see that the juvie also has an orange bill. To narrow it down some more the Caspian Tern has black on the tip of its bill. So now I am sure the Tern I saw at Bombay Hook is the Caspian Tern. What do you think?

Edit: I am still not sure of the id's on these Terns. If anyone can help it would be appreciated.

At the time I was birding at the Bombay Hook refuge a White-Faced Ibis was being reported seen. I saw a flock of Glossy Ibis a distance away and two Ibis that were closer, below is a photo of one of the two I saw. Again, all these birds were too far away for the zoom on my camera but I cropped it closer hoping to be able to id this bird. Now, whether it is the White-faced Ibis or the Glossy Ibis I am not positive because of the fuzziness of my photo. I saw my first White-faced Ibis in Idaho, so it would not be a lifer if it was the White-faced Ibis. I believe they are more rare of a sighting than the usual Glossy Ibis seen in this area.

During the summer months you can be sure to see the Great Egret, Snowy Egret and Great Blue Herons.

I always love seeing the Egrets in the tree and I like how this photo turned out. It was a hot humid day and even the birds looked tired of the heat.

Below, two Great Egrets and a Great Blue Heron.

We usually always see turtles in the Finnis Pool.

To see more beautiful birds and critters check out Friday Ark and Camera Critters. Thanks to the host of Friday Ark and to Misty Dawn of Camera Critters. I hope you enjoyed my birds of Bombay Hook and thanks for stopping by for a visit. I hope everyone has a great weekend and try to stay cool, I heard it is going to be a hot and humid weekend.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Goldfinches & Sunflowers

I am linking up my Goldfinch post to the Friday Ark and Camera Critters Both are great memes for the animal and bird lover. The American Goldfinch is a year round bird for me. The male Goldfinch is a beautiful bird, such a pretty bright yellow in the summer months. The female is pretty but a much duller color. They have such a sweet sound, I love to hear them in my yard.

Watching and feeding my yardbirds is one of my favorite things to do. The sunflowers growing in my yard are from the birds dropping the seeds. They love the Black Oiled Sunflower Seeds also known as BOSS. And now it is a treat to see the birds pecking at and eating the seeds on my sunflowers.

On this day I was able to catch the American Goldfinch perched on top of the sunflower and chowing down.

I like to leave the flowers in our yard even after they are past their beautiful flowering stage because I know the birds like to eat the seeds from the dead flowers. The Coneflowers are another flower popular with the birds in the fall time. In a small way it helps me to cut back on my bird seed purchases, if the birds are eating the seeds from my flowers.

I chose to plant coneflowers in our yard because I read that the birds love the eat the seeds in the fall.

To see more wonderful birds and critters please visit the Friday Ark and Camera Critters. Thanks to the host of the Friday Ark and to Misty Dawn of Camera Critters. Thanks also for visiting my post and blog. I always enjoy your comments. I hope you all have a great weekend and try to stay cool. It's HOT out there.

Viewing nature with Eileen