I love watching pelicans glide effortlessly over the ocean. They hang in the air, sometimes just inches off the water, bobbing up and down with the passing waves.
Grackle In The Surf
This Grackle seems to have learned a few things from the Sanderlings on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. It waited for the waves to bring tiny mollusks and crustaceans into the shore and then tried to catch them before they dug into the sand. I captured this image just as the Grackle realized the wave was a little too big.
House Finch, Snowy Day, II
Another male House Finch from the snow we had last week.
House Finch, Snowy Day, I
This weekend we had spring-like temperatures making it hard to believe I took this photo only about a week ago. This male House Finch made for a colorful subject with the snowy white background.
Young Hawk Watching The River
This young hawk, perched high above the Rappahannock River was carefully watching everything going on below it.
I’ve had trouble identifying this hawk. I believe it’s a juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk but if anybody knows differently I would appreciate your thoughts.
Green Heron
A Green Heron patrols a small beach along the river bank.
Eastern River Cooter
This small Eastern River Cooter was basking on a sunny log in the Rappahannock River as a paddled my canoe past it last July. I don’t know much about the turtles of Virginia so I may have misidentified this one.
Carolina Chickadee, II
This Carolina Chickadee hopped around on this branch and never sat still for long. Shortly after I took this picture two younger Carolina Chickadees appeared. They must have been recently fledged and following mom (or dad) around to learn the ways of the world.
Weighing in at only 0.3 – 0.4 ounces (8 – 12 grams), the tiny Carolina Chickadees always inspire me. How can something so small endure everything nature throws at it? From snowy winters to droughts and heat waves, these little birds somehow endure it all.
Please click on the image above to see a larger copy of it.
American Goldfinch, female
During the breeding season the American Goldfinch has beautiful, bright yellow plumage that turns to a sort of olive green in the fall. This female, decked out in her summer plumage, looks curious about something. The males are similarly colored but sport a prominent black cap as part of their breeding plumage.
Northern Cardinal, 4
Virginia’s state bird can be difficult to photograph. The Northern Cardinal normally keeps at a safe distance from people so it’s hard to get really close to them. The male’s brilliant red color can also make exposure and even focus difficult at times. I captured this one in open shade and that seems to have resolved the color issues.