A Snowy Owl & Eagle Day

  I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday 

December 15, 2013

Early Saturday morning, I was reading the listserve for Maryland birders and I saw all the people posting about their Snowy Owl sighting near HavreDeGrace, Md.  I was undecided about going, between the weather forcasting more snow for the day and I had already recently seen the Snowy Owl in Delaware. Then I thought this my be may be my only chance to see a another Snowy Owl in my own home state. So, hubby and I took off around 10am,  I was on a back road I usually take when I noticed this Bald Eagle on a pole hanging over the road. Well with no cars were coming either way, I had to stop and snap a few shots.

I am always excited seeing Eagles.  I thought to myself this outing is starting off great.  A little further up the road I caught the back of a hawk or an owl flying off into the woods. Now with a car coming behind me I had to move on..on to see the Snowy Owl and no time to waste I wanted to be back home before the roads became a nightmare.

The morning's outing started off great with this Bald Eagle sighting.

We had easy directions and this Snowy Owl  was probably one of the easiest birds I have been able to spot. It is in the photo above....like Waldo..can you find the Snowy Owl?

We were a distance from the Snowy Owl, standing along side the road and the owl was across the field on the opposite side of a pond.

Apparently this is a female Snowy Owl and she seems to be doing well.. She has been seen flying around the field... As with any Snowy Owl or any bird sighting..it is best to keep your distance.

The weather was feeling cold, windy and damp, even though the snow had not started yet.  We made a quickie visit to see the Conowingo Eagles..I was surprised to see the parking lot just about empty...We talked with one of the photographers there for a bit..He drove from Boston just to take photos of the Eagles while it was snowing..Well I was not waiting for the snow to start...I snapped a few photos of the Eagles in the trees and checked out the river..seeing lots of gulls and a GB Heron..Hubby and I took off for home..3 hours roundtrip total..I'd say it was a pretty good outing..




As always, I hope you enjoy my post and thanks for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

Join in on the fun and for more wonderful photos please visit  Mosaic Monday and more
 from  Our World Tuesday

 Thanks to our host: Mary our host of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer.  I wish everyone a happy week!

 Just a reminder about my new MEME called Saturday Critters..posted early every Saturday Morning...join in on the party and post your cute pets or critters.

My feathered friends

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

These are some shots from Thursday and Friday. On Thursday we woke up to a light dusting of snow on the ground. We were supposed to be heading for the Jersey shores on these two days but the forecast of snow and such cold weather changed our minds. Also, me waking up with one of my three day migraine would not have been cool. So we stayed home. I did not go out of the house I watched my backyard birds. And when it snows my feathered friends go into a feeding frenzy.  It is great because I get to see the birds up close. So here is an assortment of my yardbirds. The dusting of snow disappeared quickly.

The Dark-eyed Junco is one of my winter visitors and they have been plentiful the last two days. The Juncos look cute sitting in the pine tree they remind me of Christmas ornaments.

More tree ornaments a White-throated Sparrow and a Tufted Titmouse.

A regular visitor is the Redbellied Woodpecker.

One of my many Bluejays.

A pretty female Cardinal.

A cute Carolina Wren. Friday afternoon the forecast was calling for 1-3 inches. It was really coming down at times.

A pretty male Cardinal.

Pine Siskins are around in big numbers the last two days. I hope you enjoy my feathered friends.

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.

If you would like to see some scenes other than my birds you can check out my other blog and scenes from my travels: travelwitheileen

Thanks for visiting my blog and post. I wish everyone a very safe and happy weekend.

Snow Birds

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

These are my backyard snow birds. Some shots are from the day after Christmas and some from this morning.  Right now we are getting a snow storm it is expected to drop a few more inches on the ground before ending later tonight.

 This is a view from my dining room window. It looks out over the deck and bird feeders.

I love to watch my yardbirds in the snow, they seem to go into a feeding frenzy when it snows.

The two shots above are of the male Cardinal taken the day after Christmas.

 The Pine Warbler this morning before the snow started.

 The piggie Bluejay eating all the peanut suet balls.

Pine Warbler in the snow this morning.

Poor little warbler looks cold with the snow on its back.


 To see more beautiful photos and cute critters please visit:  Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the host 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.

Dark-Eyed Junco

For this week's post I have the Dark-eyed Junco.

I am linking up my  post with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, this was our first White Christmas in years. In fact this Christmas Eve snow was the more than the whole 1.8 inches we had during the 2011-2012 season.

One of my winter birds, the Dark-eyed Junco. On a snowy day I seem to have even more Junco's in my yard. The male above is slaty gray overall and lores only slightly darker.

From my Oregon vacation this past summer this shot above is of the Oregon Junco,  you can see a difference between the Oregon Junco and my Dark-eyed Junco above. The Oregon Junco has a jet black hood and a brown back.

Back in my yard I have the male and  female which is more brownish in color.

And to throw in even more confusion above is a Gray-headed Junco I saw during a trip to Bryce Canyon in Utah. Definitely a difference seen on the Gray-headed Junco is their Rufous back.


Other Junco's that can be seen are the Pink-sided Junco and there is a Yellow-eyed Junco. It is interesting there are so many versions of the Junco.

To see more beautiful and wonderful bird photos please visit:
 Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Michelle's  Nature Notes.
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday and thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes.
I wish everyone a happy week ahead and Happy Birding!

Snow, Birds and my neighborhood

I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday

On Saturday we woke up to a little more than inch of snow on the ground and then freezing rain on top of the snow. The one thing I like about snowy days is seeing my yardbirds and lots of them at my feeders. I have filled my feeders a few times since waking on Saturday morning. The birds are in a feeding frenzy with the snow around and these cold temps. 

My yardbirds above are the Carolina Wren, a pretty Pine Warbler, Goldfinches and a White-Throated Sparrow.

Looking out my dinning room window, I enjoyed seeing the Pine Warbler at the feeder.

Above, I have been trying to arrange my birdcam to catch the best birds. I like this shot of the Goldfinches but I do not like my son's ugly pickup truck in the photo. I also noticed I have not changed the date on the birdcam it was not 10/21/11 it was 01/21/11.

 Standing at my mailbox, I have always love the view looking up my street . The Pine Trees look gorgeous with the snow covered branches.

Since, the weather and freezing rain was unpredictable, hubby and I took a walk locally in our neighborhood. It was a little difficult walking on the crunchy snow, our boots made a loud crunchy sound with every step we took. I would think that would be enough to warn any birds that we were coming down the trail. The reservoir was partially covered with a thin layer of ice. We did see a large flock of Canada Geese, a yellow-bellied Sapsucker and we spooked a Kingfisher away when we got close to the shore.

Goldie Girl was very happy to take a walk to the lake.

To see more beautiful mosaics and photos please visit Mary's Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday

Thanks to Mary the host of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group at Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sandy and Sylvia.

Also, thanks to everyone for stopping by to see my post. I appreciate your comments. I wish everyone a safe, warm and happy week ahead!