Monday, February 21, 2011

Birding the Inner Harbor

During this past week we had some nice warm weather, we had temps in the 70's. So I grabbed the chance to take some nice walks to the Inner Harbor at lunchtime.

As far as birds go I did not see much just a lot of gulls, pigeons, around 9 mallards, 6 coots and one Northern Shoveler. There might have been more hidden in and around the boats slips.


           Below is a view of the Baltimore Aqarium, the glass pyramid holds the rainforest. The rainforest section is one of my favorite attractions in the aqarium. You can walk across the bridge to see the dolphin show in the second part of the aqarium. Past the aqarium you can just barely see a white tent like structure, this is the Pier 6 Pavilion which has a summer series of outdoor concerts.


As usual click on the photos for a larger image.


I liked this sailboat with the red, white and blue on it.


Northern Shoveler



In the distance you can see my coots swimming and I think the boat with the red slide on the back it is cool. Wouldn't you like to have a boat like this?


Coots


                             One of the six coots, I saw during my walk. I found the coots in the same spot all three days I took my walk.


I watched as a man was feeding these gulls and a couple of mallards. They were excited and noisy over being fed.


This gull was happy with this cracker he found. Now what to do with it, I think he was afraid to put it down.



I like this lighthouse and I thought of Ruby Tuesday when  I saw it across the harbor.


The warm temps are now gone and I woke up to see a light dusting of snow in our yard. Yuck, is there no end to this winter? I am off today for President's Day and I am going to count my yardbirds for the Great Backyard Bird Count.

I am linking up with That's My World  and Ruby Tuesday  Thanks to the gang of hosts at That's My World and to Mary of Ruby Tuesday.

Also, thanks for stopping by my post and I hope everyone has a great week.

43 comments:

Kerri Farley said...

Great post Eileen! That lighthouse is gorgeous .... and the gull with the cracker - a treasure ;)

jabblog said...

It looks a nice place to walk, full of interest. I wonder how long the gull carried the cracker before it was pinched - or he ate it!

EG CameraGirl said...

The gull with the cracker cracked me up! :)) The Inner Harbor is so nice with all the wonderful reflections and, of course, the birds.

TexWisGirl said...

LOL on the gull with the cracker stuffed in his beak! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Eileen, Wonderful post! That photo of the Seagull with the cracker in its bill cracked me up! Such typical Seagull behavior. I used to live near the beach in CA and have a lot of experience with the 'gulls. At the school I taught at, I once saw a Seagull actually open a kid's lunchbox (likely not fastened well) and fly off with a bunch of grapes! Have a great day today!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Thanks for allowing me join you on this walk.The scenes are so different from anything I see hear on the prairies.OK,I do see Coots,Gulls and Mallards,all in summer.

Anonymous said...

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Wifey10 said...

this is lovely, nice and tall buildings =)

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Great set of pictures, Eileen.... Love the gull with the cracker in his mouth...

The Northern Shoveler is a pretty bird, isn't he????

Wow---bet that aquarium is marvelous... Have you been to it????

Have a great day.
Hugs,
Betsy

Martha Z said...

That is an unusual lighthouse and I love that gull. He know if he puts it down someone else is going to fight him for it.

Ralph said...

The inner harbor is outstanding, the blend of urban and water wonderful. The rubies are subtle, none outweighing anything else. That is one greedy gull!

Sally in WA said...

Great post, Eileen. How nice that you are so close to enjoy the Inner Harbor during lunch. I remember taking my son to the aquarium when he was little. We moved from the Baltimore area to the Eastern Shore when he was a toddler so trips to the city for ballgames and aquarium visits were always fun.

Dimple said...

Thanks for the look at your world.
I like the lighthouse...I was first impressed that it was so different from what I usually imagine a lighthouse looks like, and then I saw all the similarities!
That gull does look pretty funny, but I bet it knew what it was doing!

Kim, USA said...

The seagull with the cracker is so cool. Love it!
Cardinal

Robin said...

Our lovely weekend weather has disappeared as well. Yuck is right!

Love that shot of the gull with the cracker, what a great catch.

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Anonymous said...

What delightful shots! Such a lovely harbour.

Sylvia K said...

Great post as always, Eileen! Love your photos and the gull with a mouth full of cheese cracker is priceless! A lovely glimpse of spring! Hopefully we'll have more than a glimpse soon! Have a wonderful week!

Sylvia

Barb said...

We lived for awhile in Havre de Grace, MD, and often went by boat to Inner Harbor. I really enjoyed your photos today - brought back good memories. That gull didn't want to share!

Unknown said...

Great tour!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

It is always interesting near the water. I like the gull who captured a treasure.

Carver said...

Great shots of the birds and Baltimore.

Kilauea Poetry said...

Hi Eileen..the gull with cracker and the lighthouse are a just a couple of my favorites..I like the idea of taking in the sights..especially watching dolphins and enjoying a concerts! Great images..looks kind of wintery too. Have a great week~

Arija said...

The water is so smooth in most of your shots. I liked the seagull delivering a package, nice capture.

Reader Wil said...

Thank you for showing a great series of photos with all the birds. The gull with the cracker in its beak is priceless!

Kay L. Davies said...

I love the lighthouse, but I'm not sure I'd want a boat with a slide going off the back. I'd be constantly worried someone would slide off unnoticed.
-- K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

The birds are wonderful! Yeah, that boat is pretty cool, but you know you're seeng the same water and the same birds after all.

Gorgeous pix -- hope you had a great day off and counted a ton of birds.

Rajesh said...

Wonderful set of shots. Gulls are having good time there.

Anonymous said...

Love the Inner Harbor - nothing like a stroll and a dinner outside on a warm summer night. (Well, I can dream, can't I?)

Love the gull and cracker! You can picture him frozen in his indecision and possessiveness forever.

Chubskulit Rose said...

Beautifully captured!

My Ruby Tuesday

Unknown said...

marvelous view of the harbor. the red lighthouse is stunning!

diane b said...

Nice shots of your world. The gull with the cracker is great. The red lighthouse is different too. Happy bird counting.

Stewart M said...

Hi - like the picture of the gull with the cracker in its bill - as you say, I wonder how its going to eat it. Clearly its never heard the saying "never eat anything larger than your head!"

Cheers Stewart M - Australia

Hootin Anni said...

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, incredible!!! I do so love the gull with the cracker. That is without a doubt a PERFECT photo.

NESTING HERON at paradise ponds in today's post.

Thanks for coming by to say howdy yesterday!!

Walk in New York said...

belle serie qui nous fait voyager

Remember, Every Friday, The Challenge "Walk In The Street Photography"

anne said...

A very relaxing view.

Yoshi said...

The gull having a cracker is so cute and that is my favorite photo among them!!!

Francisca said...

Oh, I join the chorus, Eileen, the gull with the cracker is the star today. Lots of interesting pics from your world, and to answer your question, no I'd not like a boat like that, but I'd be happy for you to have it and I come and enjoy it every once in a while! Owning it would be too much work and shackle my need for globetrotting. :-D

Elaine said...

That's a perfect way to spend the noon hour. The lighthouse is very interesting, and not in a spot that you would expect to see a lighthouse. The very best shot though is the gull with the cracker. He has the ultimate quandry--if he puts it down so he can eat it he risks it being stolen. What to do, what to do?

Unknown said...

Interesting lighthouse. I've never seen one like that before.

Carletta said...

Love your Ruby lighthouse Eileen!
However, that gull steals the show!! :)

Dhemz said...

wow! very nice...I like it...thanks for dropping by at my RT entry.

Corner Gardener Sue said...

You see such cool and lovely critters and things! I love that lighthouse!

Amila Kanchana said...

Hi Eileen, Great blog have here! That cracker-loving gull is a winner!

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