Park Scenes 4-24-10

Pussytoes growing at top of River bank near the office....

Original osprey nest cam was activated on Saturday. They have 2 eggs---they are a more experienced pair, whereas others have not laid yet---
After work, took a walk in the Black Walnut Creek Nature Study Area. It's a less than a mile long path and boardwalk circle. The goal was to find a Lady Slipper! First encounter was due to lovely sweet smell! Saw a shrub never noticed before...probably Marsh Honeysuckle (?)
Been watching this huge beech tree for decades. It has it's own cave & doesn't appear to be unstable yet!

Marsh Flowers Along Study Loop 4-24-10

Pinxter or Swamp Azalea...

The beloved Pink Lady Slipper (only one) was found in it's same spot off the top of a staircase in woods near an observation tower overlooking the stream valley...

May apple....

Jack-in-the-pulpit....

Chelsea Surprise, April 23

We saw a strange "lump" at edge of field-----deer, fox, paper bag??

A canine! Tall fox........Seemed to be hot and laid down again for a short time...
Up again, looking for cover....

April PRP Eagles

On the morning of April 6 is when the osprey platform area was in bedlam. The one bird ended up swimming upriver & "docked" close to this area. In the afternoon, this difficult spot to see was checked from off the roadway. At first, one large brown blob (turkey?) was viewed, but then an eagle landed & we could tell there were two after checking camera. Quality is poor, but now we know who's there. One of these was Not the swimmer---that was definitely an osprey.

Later, on way to Park exit, could see the eagles at the nest (no leaves!!!)....
Who's that??..... After a landing in the nest and some chattering, Dad went upstairs....... Afternoon of April 10, --perhaps the last clear look......

April 20 PRP Eagle Nest & Chippy

Now you see some of Mom's head.....

...and now you don't! Don't know how we'll see any eaglet(s) before fledge time..
This picture below was exactly a year ago, a few days after the Momsters' visit. We could see 3 eaglets for the first time then! Wonder if the extra snow this year watered the trees!

Chippy is back after a 3 week absence. We're thankful he/she is alive and well. Went asap to the bird feeder!.....

With his little friend, chipping sparrow, under the feeder......

Cam *Stars* in Estonia

Wild boar piglets are now allowed out after dark....

White-tailed eagles, Linda & Sulev. They have 2 or 3 eggs now....
Lesser-spotted eagle. The pair has been nestorating, should have eggs soon....

Tawny owl, Klaara.....

Klaara's eggs.....

Osprey Video 4-6-10

Just a 4 second clip of the action---batteries died ;>( Can't seem to enlarge this here, but there is flapping in water at back, middle of screen

Osprey Water Polo 4-6-10

Bird flying just left the tussle......

Two birds here---Swimmer on left and divebomber on right. Swimmer paddled way up the river probably because the land behind it was too close to the nest platform.

Spring Has Sprung at Chelsea

One patch of many flowers growing in the woods near the pond at farmhouse office.....

All the different daffodils and jonquils found......
Our one resident goose pair and deer (in the middle of the day?) on other side of pond.....

A favorite six-spotted tiger beetle....(1/2" to 5/8" long).....

Chelsea Scenes

The case of the disappearing fox! We had seen a lovely red one during the winter. This one had light tufts of fur on it's sides---shedding the winter coat. Two days later another was seen, but no shedding, no white tailtip & it had black lower legs. Perhaps we will be fortunate to see some families this spring, like three years ago.

Leonard or Lenora Groundhog.....
One afternoon, Ms. Hoppy (back, right) and two others were grazing in the front yard field when part of a large herd appeared. They left quickly, but Ms. H & co. stayed....

These, 19 in all, were seen in a back field a few days later near sundown....

Dirt road on opposite side of that field shows the "haunted house" on right & part of a barn....

Eagle Nest at Park 3-27-10

Could see someone early on this morning!In the afternoon, some activity was taking place....
Ah ha!! Could she be tending to someone else in that nest??
Then without a flight, the nest is back to it's normal empty look....
Peek-a-boo!!!......