Red-eyed Vireo 8-29-10

Finally got about 1/2 of the vireo!! They've been enjoying the seeds in the magnolia tree, but hop around constantly. Are about 6" long w/ stripes through eye....

Monarchs 8-28-10

Saw about half a dozen monarch caterpillars on the milkweed in the Park Butterfly Garden. A couple were quite small---hope they nibble away!...

Lots of milkweed bugs are there, too....
Have been searching the plants for weeks and looking for years to get a good picture of the beautiful chrysalis. Yesterday morning, this was on the soda machine!!!...
These two are under the roof of the gazebo, another place they're sometimes found. Unfortunately, just learned that any with black have been parasitized and will not emerge :>(
Adult at home on lantana 8-26-10...

Monarch Emerging

Wanted to show this again even though it was posted long ago with a metamorphosis set. It is the one and only time this fascinating occurrence has been seen by me.

Wrens Before Traveling

Adult after food drop on 8-17-10....

Here's Bigger Bird Brain hogging the door...
A rare look at both baby beaks....
In the early AM of Aug. 19, one little flappy bird was seen going under the deck. A couple hours later, the last spotting of a house wren was when an adult came to harass Shorty the Squirrel...
A catbird is one of several other visitors to "Magnolia Acres"....

Wren's Song

Made this for the audio (video isn't great) Mr. Wren always sang when at his house. Other wrens in the area would respond. After chicks hatched, there was no more singing--too busy grocery shopping...

Park Critters - After the Storms

Goldfinch near the bird feeder at the Park.....

This little phoebe spent half the day of 8-17 perched on the back of the smashed golf cart. It's the only remaining remnant of the shed, whose other parts have been removed.....
Just below the River bank, some animals use the downed trees to perch....
Five large red-bellied turtles basked in the sun and said, "Hello to Jo"....

Turkey in the misty sun after the morning rain next to Chelsea office pond...

House Wren Update

Ms. Wren sat in the house in the middle of the terrible heat wave. This must mean there are eggs. Hope they aren't hardboiled. She came out to try and get some air---

Surprise! Here's Wrenny with a tidbit. Must be a hatch! On the same day, we saw Ms. W come out with a large eggshell that totally covered her beak..
It's Baby Bird Brain!!!... Today there are TWO!!!...

Wrens are so fiesty, they chase all the other birds out of the tree regardless of size. Wrenny kept divebombing Shorty the Squirrel. Shorty tried to eat his peanut dinner under the plants!....

Ospreys + at Patuxent River, 7-31-10

One juvie (probably the original) in nest and Mom on the cam.The chick's calls and chirps were unending even tho it had a piece of fish in the nest. "Is that someone coming for dinner???" (far right speck)....

Yes! Dad flew in with a fish ... The whole family was in the nest, BUT, he that bringeth, taketh away!!!! How disappointing---it hadn't been cleaned!...
Lots of Swamp Rose Mallow was growing amongst the other vegetation next to the boardwalk at the marshy River's edge.....

SURPRISE! Great Egrets, 7-31-10

Upon reaching the 2-story tower off a path by the River, TWO Great Egrets were seen standing in the water!!!!!Never been that close to them before. Of course, they flew away before camera could be opened. (note osprey platform on right)...

The second egret. Behind the spot where these two had been standing was a tall clump of water vegetation...
All of a sudden, groups of 2 or 3 flew up from the invisible area and all went to trees at the River's edge. Here are #8 (approaching treetop) and #9! There were about a dozen in all...
A quiz~~~see if you can find 9 visible white birds, if you wish! (allowed to enlarge) There are a few others hidden by leaves...
"My, what a long neck you have." "The better to see the neighbors!"
Unbeknownst to us, a great blue heron must have already been perched in the tree!.....