Friday, January 11, 2013

Birding Loch Raven

I am linking up with  Green Day and Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-B-Birdin.

These photos are from last weekend, hubby and I took another walk at the Loch Raven Reservoir. Loch Raven seems to attract more ducks in the winter than the reservoir near my home.


Most of the ducks were across the lake on the opposite shore from where we stood. I can make out the Canada Geese, Common Mergansers, Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers and I am sure there are some ducks I could not id without having my scope.



Loch Raven is great place to visit on the weekends, since the road is closed and used for hiking, biking and jogging around the lake. The road is line with the tall green pine trees that you can see in the distance.



Above, hanging out on a small island we saw the Great Blue Heron, lots of gulls, and some Ringed-neck Ducks.


I was playing around with the setting on my camera and I thought it made the water look neat.


Look the ducks are swimming uphill.


Families with small children are often seen in this spot at the lake feeding the gulls, ducks and geese.

Almost home, we see the usual peacocks hanging out on the snowy field. Now, that not a usual sight for some to see.


A cropped photo for a closer look. These birds live on a farm around the corner from me and I see them often on my way home from work. A few times they have been on the road right near a curve, luckily they were safe while I had to brake for them. It seems our neighborhood has a few farms with these peacocks, I have passed signs along my road saying BIG BIRD crossing.


To see more beautiful photos and cute critters please visit:   Green Day and Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host Fiona of Green Day, Misty Dawn of Camera Critters and to Anni of I'd Rather-B-birdin.  Thanks for visiting my blog and post. I wish everyone a very safe and happy weekend.

50 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

the sunken water shots made me a little nervous! :)

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i agree - is that a whirl pool or something ... so wild??! nice views. love the old red barn. ( :

SandyCarlson said...

I love that great blue! These are wonderful. I really enjoyed the way you played with your camera to create those effects.

Leave It To Davis said...

I just adore the shots where you played with your settings! That is so cooool!!!! And the ducks swimming uphill!!! LOVE IT! Great job!

Lucinha said...

Eillen,

Você sempre nos trás imagens lindas, mas cada vez me surpreendo mais com a beleza desses lugares.
Um lindo e abençoado final de semana. Abraços

Jo said...

Phew, swimming uphill! It makes me feel breathless to think about it! Hope you're having a great weekend. Jo

Raindrops and Daisies said...

Good morning from Ireland Eileen.

What a fantastic place to visit
I loved the water shots and the snowy fields
I have only seen a peacock in Dublin zoo so thought these pics were amazing.

I hope that you have a lovely weekend.


Fiona

ps playing around with the camera setting was fun but the water looked a bit scary!!!

Bob Bushell said...

Lovely scenery and with snow, cheers Eileen.

Giga said...

Ciekawe i bardzo ładne miejsce na spacer. Podoba mi się Twoja zabawa zdjęciami. Pozdrawiam.
Interesting and very nice place for a walk. I like your fun photos. Yours.

Indrani said...

Great series of shots! You have peacocks too.

Ailime said...

Olá Eileen, absolutamente fantásticas essas fotos aí! Imagino que esse local deve ser um Paraíso! Muito obrigada por partilhar fotos de lugares tão belos. Desejo-lhe um bom fim-de-semana. Abraço Ailime

laurak/ForestWalkArt :) said...

(yay! it's the weekend and i can finally do a little blog-catch-up)

love your header pic's....
and your bird shots from Loch Raven (love that name too!)

AND the shots where you played around with the settings.,...so cool!! almost feels as though you're about to be sucked into the earth...a vortex...

Carole M. said...

Great place to walk..had3 me tricked with yr camera settings...and how diffrrent to see peacocks on the snowy ground. Would make fot a lovely photo up close ...loved your header images Eileen

Nancy said...

Beautiful -- great way to start my day Eileen. :)

Hootin Anni said...

Peacocks...in the 'wild'. I've only seen 'em in zoos. What a treat. As for you playing with the setting on your camera, that photo turned out awesome.

And of course, as always, love your photos Eileen.

Our Neck of the Woods said...

How neat to see peacocks! I love them. Your camera has some cool settings - some of those photos are like crazy optical illusions!

Hope you have a good weekend!

Anonymous said...

How beautiful these pics are. The snowy field is gorgeous. Have a wonderful weekend, Eileen.

Mildred

Lynne said...

Once again, I have enjoyed the walk with you. I enjoyed hearing about the Peacock farm. It is my maiden name. We often see Peacocks in the south west part of Ireland. They aren't fenced or caged. They walk freely about here and there. The white Peacock is beautiful with spreaded wing!

carol l mckenna said...

Great shots of nature's gems ~

(A Creative Harbor ~ Carol L McKenna)

Snap said...

Isn't camera play fun?!!!! Loch Raven Reservoir looks like a wonderful place. Happy Critter Day!

Jen Sanford said...

Funny about the peacocks! There's a neighborhood here that I have seen some in, but was never sure if they were pets or zoo escapees.

Gail Dixon said...

Such beautiful images! I've never seen a camera with a fisheye setting built into it. How neat!

Anonymous said...

Hallo Eileen
für mich zeigt du Bilder aus dem Paradies..so wunderbar :D

LG vom katerchen

Anonymous said...

What a lovely lake. Love that shot with the heron!

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

That was a fun setting on the camera for the water shots.
I've never seen peacocks in the wild and for some reason I thought they were warm weather birds.

My Little Home and Garden said...

You have such an eye for spotting and identifying the birds that you see. I sometimes have to consult a bird book just to figure out who is flitting about in my backyard!
-Karen

Jidhu Jose said...

wonderful shots

Flying Bird

Debbie said...

so pretty....great sightings!!

have a wonderful weekend!!

Unknown said...

Am trying to visit the comments to my blog this week -love your walk by the lake - the first one with the globe setting is kinda otherworldly! Very interesting are the faint (reflections) shadows of the people in the water:)

Les Fous du Cap said...

It is always the great pleasure that to browse your blog. Bravo for photos ;-)
Céline & Philippe

DIMI said...

Hallo Eileen!How beautiful these photos are!!Amazing shots!The snowy field is gorgeous!! Have a wonderful weekend!!
Dimi..

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Poor birds having to "climb" up that water (that's what it looked like to me at first). I wondered for a minute there where those peacocks came from -- how funny to see them on the street. My favorite picture is the one with the heron and all the other water birds...always love to see a mixed group of birds like that.

Jackie said...

These are all just wonderful. I love them all.

We tried with peacocks here. But, one flew away and the other got taken away by a bobcat.

I love all sorts of birds and especially water fowl and pea fowl.

I also love your blog. I am following you now on Google and FB Networked!

I am getting so hooked on all of this birding that I may just have to change my blog form a three column to a two...so I can show larger photos.

Thanks for going out and bird hunting with your camera so we could all enjoy these wonderful shots!

Happy week!

Vores have said...

Great image series showing :) Hanne Bente

orchid0324 said...

Dearest Eileen,
Oh, how I wish I could see peacocks hanging out in my neighbor p;) Do you see they open their wings sometimes?
Haha, I enjoyed the way you fiddled with camera and outcomes♡♡♡
Not getting better perfectly from cold(^^;)
Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

Anni said...

You know what I'm gonna say, in fact I can't add much to what I posted yesterday when I was over at Hootin' Anni's admin.

But I will jot down this -

Thanks for linking up this week at the Bird D'Pot. Your post is a remarkable addition for all.

Anonymous said...

Great captures of the big gathering of assorted birds and ducks at the lake and corn fields.
I didn't know Peacocks wintered in the north.

Happy weekend, Eileen.

HansHB said...

A good serie of photos!
Nice "camera-play", - but swimming in that water...? No!
Have a nice day!

Maria said...

I like the wide angle perspective you got with the camera setting!

Small City Scenes said...

Beautiful images. The ones you played around with made me a little sea sick. LOL Funny how peacocks love to roam the streets.
MB

Crafty Green Poet said...

looks like a lovely place for a walk, love the swirly water with the ducks swimming uphill!

NatureFootstep said...

haha, you had some fun that day. I´m not sure my camera can do that. Guess I have to check. :)

vivi ka said...

Wow! So many ducks!!
Beautiful shots as always!
Have a great week ahead!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful shots, especially the snowy field!

Kerri Farley said...

A lovely place!

Unknown said...

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

Pride In Photos Beauty said...

What an exciting sanctuary for the birds and photographers alike.
Laurie

Lina Gustina said...

So many interesting things to see in your shots, Eileen :)
Thanks for dropping by.

http://www.1sthappyfamily.com/2013/01/a-graceful-chicken.html

Memaria said...

Stunning photos!!
I just love the way you see nature!
Have a great week!

Rohrerbot said...

Peacocks are really interesting to see in person....but to see them in snow and on a farm....strange:) Very cool image!

Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "Whatever your beliefs, spread love not hate." East Paden Twin Bridge, Fishing...