I read on Dina's blog about the loss of Klaus, he was a great bird and nature photographer and very much respected. Klaus will be dearly missed.. I was always amazed at his photos.
My prayers go out to Klaus's family and friends.
On Friday my bird club had an outing to Poplar Island, Maryland an island located in the Chesapeake Bay. Tours of Poplar Island are given by MES ( Maryland Environmenal Services) reservations have to be made in advance by our bird club or by any group that would like to tour the island. We were met at the Tilghman Island dock by the MES boat and staff. After a 20 minute boat ride a staff person also drove our tour bus around Poplar island, stopping at various places so we could see the birds. I want to say KUDOS to the MES gals and guys that run these trips and to all the organizations are are helping to rebuild Poplar Island.
In earlier days the island once supported a small town, post office, cattle, sawmill and a school. Two US Presidents Roosevelt and Truman used the island as a hunting and a vacation retreat. By 1990 erosion had cut Poplar Island into three sections each around 10 acres. Today, Poplar Island is growing from a group effort and combined efforts of the Port of Baltimore, Army Corps of Engineers and the MES. Their reconstruction and restoration project is using dredged material from Maryland and Baltimore shipping channels. Construction started in 1998 and is suppose to continue thru 2020. During our tour we could see the bulldozers hard at work at the various wetland cells and the upland cells. When the island is completed it will be divided between tidal marsh and upland and will provide habitat for migratory and the resident wildlife. There is an ongoing school Terrapin Connection project for the nesting Diamondback Terrapins. I was able to see the baby terrapins that will soon be going to various schools where school children will be collecting data and taking care of the hatchlings until their release back on the Poplar Island beaches in May or June.
Wildlife is already claiming Poplar Island as their home, we saw numerous Osprey, Eagles, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, Terns, GB Herons, Avocets, Black Necked Stilts, Black Bellied Plover, various species of Sandpipers, Yellowlegs, Killdeer, various species of Seagulls, many DC Cormorants, Barn and Bank Swallows and lots of Mallard ducks, Redwing Blackbirds, Cowbirds and some Black Ducks. The Diamondback Terrapins are already successfully nesting on the island.
I was able to see two new lifers, one was a Virginia rail and its chicks and the other was the Hudsonian Godwit. The Godwit was too far away but I did get a couple of rail photos. The chicks were too fast but they were cute.
The finished island project is suppose to include boat docking facilities, information kiosks, self guided nature trails and boardwalks, avain observation areas, picnic area and other resting and viewing areas. It sounds great and I am already hoping to go on another one of my bird club's outings to Poplar Island.
While we were on the island, it looked like a sailboat race was happening on the Chespaeake Bay.
To see more wonderful mosaics and photos please visit The Holley's at Scenic Sunday and Mary's Mosaic Monday and That's My World. Thanks to the Holleys of Scenic Sunday, Mary for hosting Mosaic Monday and thanks to the hosting group of That's My World: Sylvia, Wren, Sandy.
Thank you for visiting my post this week, I hope you enjoyed my visit to Poplar Island. I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Happy Birding!!!!
65 comments:
Congratulations on two new birds, Eileen! It's good that the island is being rebuilt and the terrapins are nesting already.
Nice series of shots, and mosaics!
Your photo's and mosaics are beautiful Eileen. I bought myself a birdbook in England so I can find out what you are showing in your blogs. Thank you for sharing,.
That is a lovely sanctuary. It's so good to hear of projects like this - it's a much needed counter to the doom and gloom we seem to see so much recently:-)
Wonderful photos, as ever.
Lovely island to build a wildlife reserve, you're very well at seeing things.
Hi Eileen, Wonderful informative post with excellent shots of the area and wildlife. What a super nice place. No wonder the Presidents enjoyed being there. I can tell, you did too! Have an especially nice Monday tomorrow!
I seldom go for birding, but I talk to the little critters in my neighborhood.
Both are interesting.
What a beautiful place. How is that restoration being funded? It sounds interesting, and worthy of a donation!
Hi Eileen~
Looks like a great place to bird. Congrats on the lifers! Nice mosaics!
This looks like a wonderful birding spot Eileen. Thanksfully more states are preserving such bird and terrapin sanctuaries.
I'm sorry to hear about Klaus! That is sad news.
Looks like an amazing place with so much variety. You got some really great shots!
Eileen, Fabulous photos of the birds. I love having the opportunity to see and photograph birds. I really love the sailboat photo, too.
Have a great week!!
Oh, that sounds like such a wonderful project! I loved seeing all the different species that are repopulatiing the island. Congrats on your new life birds! :)
Grand pictures! The one with the sailboats is very nice! Cathy
What a beautiful bird sanctuary...the pictures are gorgeous!
Wonderful and informative post, Eileen. Congratulations on the new birds on your life list and I love the terrapin! So important to have places like this.
The photo of the sailboats is wonderful! Love seeing what birds you see, too! We just went for a walk and saw 2 wild turkeys tonight! That was a thrill! ♥
What a great birding place!
Beautiful photos, Eileen!
Thanks so much for your input on my question.
Wnderful that they are doing the reclamation work. It already looks like a wonderful spot, and when they are finished I'm sure it will be even better.
Sounds like an awesome island to visit! I'm jealous of your avocet and stilt sightings :)
I can just imagine the sounds that must surround you in that lovely spot - the birds, the wind and the surf - lovely.
Such a beautiful place to bird watching. Beautiful photos and mosaic too.
Wonderful post--and photos of an interesting place! Have a good week.
Love these photo's specially the one with the sails above the dunes!
Off topic and no hard feelings if you remove this:
for those wanting a Monday phototheme as well:
http://momentsandmore.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/moments-on-monday/
A perfect place for birding, enjoying all your bird shots :)
www.1sthappyfamily.com
More interesting birds photos from you. I like the terrapin too.
Wow Eileen you have beautiful photos there. Love watching these birds and the water is great! Thanks for the visit!
Mosaic Monday
If I understood you correctly, I am shocked to read about the loss of Klaus. His photographs are so extremely vivid to me. Your lovely photo of distant sailboats in a race reminds me of life and how quickly it passes … with memories of loved one’s drifting behind.
lovely captures all!!
sure must have been a great time!
beautiful photos. Love the collages.
A pretty and interesting place to visit - thanks for sharing. You did a great job of photographing it all.
Thanks for stopping by. I think the glads were either picked to soon or in cold storage to long.
Have a great week.
Thank you for taking us along with you to Poplar Island. You got some wonderful pictures of the birds, but you also saw some very beautiful scenery. The information about reconstructing the island was interesting. I just hope they will be able to keep it from being over-developed once the reconstruction is complete.
It looks like a great spot for birding. I look forward to fall when the activity will increase around here as birds come to California for their winter holiday.
Hi Eileen! Cool water, fresh breathe... I love the birds' shadows and reflections in the water! The last picture is very interesting too!
Thank you for your kind comment on my blog!
These are spectacular!
Fantastic shots. Wonderful place to do birding.
That sounds like so much fun, brilliant post. Thanks Eileen.
Lovely birds and wildlife! Beautiful shots.
What an interesting activity!
Lovely captures and presentation.
What a beautiful place to bird watch and also see other wildlife. Very interesting information and great shots.
Oh this is such a postive post. That the island is being reconstructed and already is attracting so many wonderful birds (congrats on the lifers). And what a lovely place it is already (or again, I guess we should say). And the terrapin project is such a great thing for the kids and wildlife. Wonderful. Thank you.
Another great place for you to visit Eileen, and what a list of birds you saw and photographed. Thanks for all that information about Poplar Island - I just wish I could get there and see it first hand.
Congratulations on the two lifers, Eileen. What an inspiring post about the rebirth of that island. Have a wonderful week. Blessings, Jo
What marvelous post and such a beautiful place! I would love to be able to visit there! So many beautiful birds! Love the turtle! Really superb captures for the day, Eileen! Hope your week is off to a great start!!
Sylvia
What is happening at My World Tuesday?
I got a glimpse of a message about Klaus having died and then it disappeared. Is this true then? And did it happen today?
I so hope I saw it wrong.
tw3.me
What wonderful photos! Again!
Thanks for visiting!
What a beautiful place to watch the birds, and your mosaics are fantastic. They are adorable!
Wonderful photos! Dear Eileen, it' s okay! I am a grandma and soon my Australian daughter will make me a grandma of another Aussie! Have a greay week!
love your bird mosaic, saw several similar looking birds that we do have here as well.
Do you follow the America's cup yachting?
I like how you put that bird on the perch, " I am the king" in the middle of your collage.
wonderful post, love your photos
Hi Eileen. Thank you for stopping by my blog. What a pleasure to come here to the tranquil sounds and sights of mother nature. I am completely useless at bird pics although it doesn't stop me one bit from stalking them with my camer. However, i get so intruiged by their antics that i completely forget to snpa the pic at that oppertune moment and end up with a turned back or a missing subject! I do have a load of fun though so it is great to come here to your blog and see how it should be done!!
Veronica
what a great place. I want to visit it. :)
Hi there - what a great set of pictures, tempered by the news that your blog also carried.
Hope all is well with you.
Stewart M - Australia
Nice pictures. I like those landscapes with a clear and beautiful light, and attractive fauna.
You certainly have the most beautiful scenes in your photographs. So much nature all around you. I love your mosaic.
Karen
What a beautiful landscape ! Makes me wish to go on holidays ! it looks so natural and wild.
What marvellous shots of this lovely place!
Eileen, what a wonderful place! I commend those who are trying to restore habitat. I have never heard of this place but it certainly makes me want to go and see it for myself. Your photos are awesome and your post is very informative!
Those scenes are lovely especially that last one with the sails.
Congrats on the new birds! What a cool place to visit.. I hope the restoration is successful.
A goldmine you have there with all the wildlife just waiting for you to discover.
They are beautiful birds. I love all your photos. Great shots as always.
WHat a great island! I love the tiny turtle! :0)
You sure have a knack for finding and photographing interesting birds. The island looks very pretty...such nice shades of blue. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the weekend.
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