Birding & Walking at Loch Raven

I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Sunday Bridges   and Our World Tuesday

On Saturday, hubby and I took a walk locally at the Loch Raven Reservoir. The reservoir is one of three reservoirs that Baltimore City owns for their drinking water. On the weekends part of the road around the reservoir is closed for hikers, bikers and joggers. It is a very pretty and scenic area to view while you are out walking.  I also enjoy the birds in the lake, we saw Bufflehead ducks, a Gadwall, a Mute Swan, lots of seagulls and Canada Geese.

In the mosiac I have pictured top left a Bufflehead duck, a flock of seagulls being fed, one of the bridges going over the lake, middle left a Gadwall, middle right is a Mute Swan, bottom row is the same bridge and more seagulls.

It was a windy and chilly day so we did a brisk walk on the road and walk down closer to the lake to look at the birds.

This swan was quite a ways out in the water but I swear it was giving me the evil eye.

Goldie Girl begging to go for a swim in the lake.

To see more wonderful mosaics and photos please visit Mosaic Monday  and Sunday Bridges  and Our World Tuesday.  Thanks to all the wonderful host of these fun memes. Also, thanks for stopping by to see my post. I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Happy Spring!!!

Backyard birds & critters

I am linking up with Camera Critters

Ok guys, I am blocking the camera go and eat all the birdseed

Could you lower this feeder some, I have to stretch SO far to reach the food.

                       Are you looking at me?

                    A few sweet looking doves

                      The masked bandit...luckily my feeders were put away in the evening.

I like how the camera caught this coon walking along the deck railing.

A downy woodpecker outside my dining room window

 

My Goldie Girl during my walk in the woods.

To see more cute and wonderful critters please visit Camera Critters

SWF>>>>Walk in the woods

I am linking up with Skywatch Friday


These are some shots of the skies with the moon and planets over my backyard. Also,  some shots from my walk with Goldie Girl on the fireroad going thru the woods to the lake.

 These shots of the crescent moon were taken on  Feb. 26. I enjoyed looking at the moon when it was lined up with Venus and Jupiter. My son was able to show me where to locate various stars. It was a beautiful evening with a clear sky. I was able to focus on just the crescent moon.

 I would have loved to have a clearer shot that included all three Jupiter, the moon and Venus. My moon in the middle looks like it has a star effect when it should look like the crescent moon in the photo above. I guess I need some more practice.

I like this view looking up at the sky thru the pine trees.

Goldie Girl and I checked out the reservoir, I spotted some Common Mergansers across the lake way too far away for my camera.

I was checking out the treetops looking for a "new" bird or first of season bird when I spotted one of my regulars the Tufted Titmouse.

More of the Turkey and Black Vultures flying over my yard. It is like clockwork, they arrive back into the trees next to my house every evening.

This photo above of the full moon was taken in the morning of March 6. The moon was setting and I watch it slide down behind my backyard trees.


To see more wonderful skies from around the world click Skywatch Friday. Thanks to the hosting group: Sylvia, Sandy and Wren. I also appreciate all the visit and comments. I wish everyone a safe and happy weekend!

Blackwater Tundra Swans

For this weeks World Bird Wednesday   and  Nature Notes

I am showing more of the Tundra Swans we saw at Blackwater NWR.  I wanted to mention Blackwater NWR is having their Eagle festival Saturday March 10.

The Tundra Swans winter on lakes and estuaries in the lower 48 states. Feeding in open waters, marshes and croplands. In the photo the swans are in front of a large flock of Snow Geese.

Sorry, the photos are so fuzzy, I zoomed out so far and cropped some of the photos.

First years birds have a dusky plumage in the winter.

The scenery at Blackwater is beautiful with the water and grasses and the trees.

To see more beautiful and wonderful birds check out World Bird Wednesday   and  Nature Notes.  Thanks to Springman of World Bird Wednesday and to Michelle the host of Nature Notes.

Thank You also for stopping by to see my post and for the nice comments. I hope the rest of your week is a happy one.

Chasing the bird

I am linking up with Mary's Mosaic Monday  and Our World Tuesday

Yesterday, hubby and I drove to Maryland's Eastern shore on whim. I was hoping to see the Virginia Warbler that has been sighted at Pickering Creek Audubon Center. I do not usually go chasing birds but this one has been seen in the area for about a month or more and seen just the day before. Hubby and I arrived at Pickering Creek and soon after I could hear the Virginia Warbler. Another birder standing next to me was able to see it low on the ground behind a lot of brush. I would have needed a step ladder to see over the brush and then look down to where is was on the ground.

  A Great Blue heron in flight at Pickering Creek Audubon Center

So, we decided to drive on further to the Blackwater NWR it was there we saw a lot of birds....highest count being Snow Geese and Canada Geese and a lot of Tundra Swans. We also saw some Yellow Rump Warblers, Mallard ducks, Coots, Northern Shovelers, Bald Eagles, Vultures and Great Blue Herons.

Large count of Tundra Swans at the Blackwater refuge.

After leaving Blackwater NWR, I was not ready to give up on the Virginia Warbler so we went back to Pickering Creek. Again I was able to hear it but not see it. It was so frustrating to be so close to a bird and not be able to see it.

 The field next to Pickering Creek center had a large amount of seagulls. My shot only shows a small amount of the seagulls that were there. I am not sure why they were attracted to this field.

The Cedar Waxwings were all over the place at Pickering Creek. I also saw bluebirds and a Mocker and lots of Canada Geese and Coots. I was surprised to run into some of my birding friends from home, so I wasn't the only birder out there chasing the Virginia Warbler.

To see more wonderful mosaics and beautiful photos please visit Mosaic Monday   and  Our World Tuesday

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