As I'm reminiscing on last summer's trip to Iceland (and working up videos, etc), I'm uncovering some photos that just make me smile. On the cliffs above Reynisfjara, a black sand beach with impressive caves and balsatic columns outside Vik, on Iceland's southern shore, dozens of puffins were nesting. These pudgy little birds were impressively…Read more Puffins!
Bird
Arctic Tern
Arctic Terns (Sterna paradisaea) have one of the longest migrations in the world, annually flying from the Arctic to the Antarctic, a distance of over 12,000 miles (19,000 km), AND BACK. As we were told in Iceland, this exertion leaves them perpetually ticked off. At one point during our Iceland summer (2019), we pulled off…Read more Arctic Tern
COVID Camp
Times are strange. Even though a lot of what I like to do is, by its nature, remote - backpacking, canoeing/kayaking, sailing, etc - all these activities became extremely popular as soon as we started getting guidance not to congregate. The bars closed down and the trailheads clogged up. Add to that the challenges of…Read more COVID Camp
Red-Belly Nest
Signs of spring are everywhere right now. Fruit trees are starting to bloom, and the larger hardwoods are budding. Robins are everywhere (though in truth I've seen them all winter - they never really left), and the high school sailing team is back on the water. We've had no snow this winter, and very few…Read more Red-Belly Nest
Cryptochromes and Bird Migration
Spring is here! Around here, the trees are budding, the weather is alternately windy, stormy, and cold - and the birds are returning. Flocks of robins cover the neighbors' lawns, and the ospreys have returned to claim and improve last year's nesting sites. Bird migrations have long been a mystery to us simple humans. We've…Read more Cryptochromes and Bird Migration
Junco Snack Break
Snack break - we're in round two of a two-step snowfall here in the Mid-Atlantic. First was 5 inches of snow worn down by some sleet and freezing rain, and now it's a serious snowfall bringing maybe as much as another 5 inches. We had several birds stock up during the lull. These dark-eyed juncos…Read more Junco Snack Break
Hide and Seek
Standing along the shoreline of a pond turned completely green with floating duckweed, a great blue heron waits patiently. I'm sure it knows what it's looking for.
Wild Turkey Crossing!
Wild Turkey crossing! Had to stop the car for NINETEEN of these little velociraptors to run across the road. Get Out There!
Red-Belly on a Snag
One of our local neighbors hanging out in a stiff breeze. A Red-Bellied Woodpecker. Photo Credit - Lynn Abbott
Spring Rain
I love how a spring rain makes everything look so green. It sets off other colors very nicely! Photo Credit - Lynn Abbott
Sentinel
He looks like a lookout. He'd actually just chased everybody else away from the feeder. But either way, standing his ground against all comers!
On the Prowl
A beautiful redtail hawk, looking for mice, rabbits...maybe squirrels?
Nesting Time
We've noticed a group of 3-4 male cardinals slowly diminishing in size, and notice them instead hanging around with females. Nests can't be far behind! Photo Credit - Lynn Abbott
Keeping Watch
I spotted this fellow as he took off out of a field filled with last year's corn stubble, and landed on an overhead power line to watch for another hunting opportunity. American Kestrels are among the smallest raptors, and they have the ability to hover over their prey, lining up a strike. Beautiful colors too!…Read more Keeping Watch
House Finch
Maybe spring is coming after all. This male house finch has been hanging around. His red color is a nice splash against the grey late-winter landscape! Photo Credit - Lynn Abbott
