More nesting activity

We saw at least 4 or 5 nests with Yellow-Crowned Night Herons on the Indigo Trail at Ding yesterday. They were all busy making the nests stronger and better.

This guy came along and caused a big dust up with the others.

It didn’t take long before they chased him to the opposite side of the creek from the nests.

Last week, I failed to post this photo of a blue-winged teal under the boardwalk on the Indigo Trail.

We saw another blue-winged teal in the same spot this week. I wonder if he is the same one we saw last week? I love the colors.

The Great Blue Heron is so tall and regal.

The tri-colored heron below posed so pretty for me.

It’s always fun when we come upon a feeding frenzy along Wildlife Drive. The birds fly back and forth, dragging their feet along the water, and dipping their head in to grab a small fish.

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Look closely and you’ll see their catch.

The bright blue beak is part of the mating plumage for the little blue heron.

This guy was watching over us as we exited the end of the drive.

Easter Weekend 2020

It’s hard to know what day it is lately. Once I figured out that it was Saturday morning, we took off to drive through Ding. But first, I want to share some photos I took from my yard this week. An Eastern Screech Owl visited the owl box in our yard on a couple of different days. It could be the same bird, but the markings seem a little different between the two days. I suppose time will tell if we will have a nest soon.

And a couple of days later . . .

Different lighting and different angle, but same owl?

I am not lucky at catching photos of a red cardinal. They are very shy! I managed to get one photo of the one below.

At the observation deck on Indigo Trail at Ding today, we watched several Yellow-Crowned Night Herons readying their nests. It was fun to watch while one (we decided it was the male) repeatedly brought sticks to the nest. The other (again, we decided it was the female) would yank the stick from the male and place it in the nest and wait for the next one. They repeated the process many times before we left.

Hmmmm. He’s taking too long this time!

Where is he?

Don’t I look pretty while I hand off the stick?

Off to get another stick.

Wheeee!

Coming, Honey!

The hand off . . .

The Little Blue Heron below, in its white phase, was walking along Wildlife Drive.

Just a little further down the drive was a pretty Little Blue Heron.

We came across a Reddish Egret searching for breakfast. This one had a transponder on its back.

I’m not sure if this is a red-breasted merganser or a common merganser. I’m sure Hugh will let me know.

We stopped by the area of the beach where residents can park if they have the correct permit. So far, we can still park here if we keep the social distancing rules. When I get to this point in the walk from the parking lot, there’s such a feeling of calm that comes over me. The tension and worries fall away.

This osprey flew into a tree behind us, looked around, then had the breakfast that he had brought with him.

We saw several live scallops along the beach today.

From what I can research, the bright little dots around the edges are the scallop’s eyes.

We saw several pretty boats out on the water today. The one below was called the “Beverly Isabella”, so it caught my eye!

I took a quick video before we left. It was a very cloudy overcast day, but it was nice to be outside.

And back down the trail to our car to head home.

I completely forgot about the “pink moon” this week. By the time I walked outside, the moon was high in the sky and I just grabbed a photo by holding my camera in my hands. I guess I was too lazy to get out the tripod. Oh well, maybe next time!

You may have seen the photo below posted on my Instagram or Facebook account this week. If not, this is me with one of my favorite photos printed on metal.

Happy Easter to everyone and please stay safe and healthy!

Social Distancing

It was odd to see so few birds today at Ding. These first two seemed to have “social distancing” down pretty well, though. The one on the left is a female red-breasted merganser and the right is a cormorant.

Demonstrating an “air hug” for us from at least 6 feet away.

We saw one white pelican today. I think most of them have started their trek back north. This one was checking under the hood before leaving to join them.

I’d never seen a female red-breasted merganser, and this was the second one for the day.

I love the mating plumage on the reddish egret.

SIX FEET, LADY . . . SIX FEET!!!!

I found this pileated woodpecker in a tree in our yard.

Photos from home

When you are stuck at home, but can still take lots of photos from your front yard, it makes things seem a little less confining.

A pretty little Cattle Egret, with its mating plumage, landed in our frangipani tree and posed for me.

When the gym is shut down, you have to use whatever is at hand to get in your stretches!

The top of this tall tree across the street, burned when the house on the lot burned down about 7 years ago. The dead part at the top has become a perch for birds. But, as nature does, it has sent up another branch to be the new top. It makes me wonder if there will eventually be a bird nest on the dead part.

The vulture below was soaking up the morning sun.

Later, an osprey seems to be checking out the perch.

The next day, the osprey was standing on top, in the same way, with another osprey beside it.

The eagles still visit the distant nest every now and then. The dead tree makes for bleak photos, though.