Since I blogged last we have celebrated the 234th birthday of the USA. I haven't had a chance to blog much since the Internet at the campground is extremely slow and can't seem to handle uploading pictures. So I have to wait till I get home.
One of my goals in photography is to get a Bald Eagle snatching a fish from the lake. Since the timing and everything must work out just perfectly, I still haven't succeeded. This one however was circling as if to dive, but I arrived too late. At least he is close to the water.
One of my goals in photography is to get a Bald Eagle snatching a fish from the lake. Since the timing and everything must work out just perfectly, I still haven't succeeded. This one however was circling as if to dive, but I arrived too late. At least he is close to the water.
Then he flew right over the top of me on his way to a favorite perch.
Bald Eagles have a distinctive high pitched cry unlike other birds I have heard. When I hear their cry close by, I usually try to sneak up and get a picture.
This one stayed put long enough for me to get a picture of him squawking at a hawk that was dive bombing him and trying to get him to move one. Funny but the little birds fear the crows, the crows fear the eagles, but not much really messes with them.
Last weekend a neighbor said I should go down to the beach area because there were numerous Eagles circling in the warm breeze. I grabbed my cameras and headed down to the beach only to discover that they were Turkey Vultures, not Eagles. (Here is where I should tell the joke that I recognized them as Turkey Vultures because I worked with Turkeys so long... but I won't). I thought it would be unlikely to have that many Eagles together.
I don't know how long they enjoyed the updrafts but they sure looked like they were having fun.
Loons are ordinarily very territorial except after they have reared their young. Then they begin to gather in groups as if rehearsing their flight south. I hate to think that is coming so soon, but it won't be long as you can see by the group of eight discussing when they are going to head south. I should tell them to forget going south as the Gulf is filled with tar balls.
This has been an unusual birding season. We have very few Hummingbirds and few Nuthatches and Chickadees. The last two summers our campground has had a nest of Cooper's Hawks. They prey on birds which would account for the down numbers of most.... but I doubt that would account for the Hummingbirds' numbers being down. Anyway, this Rose Breasted Grosbeak stopped by to add some color the other day. If all goes as planned we begin our new deck at the lake this week. Should be a hot one to work on it.
