Big Birds 12-28 & 29, 2012

At Chelsea farmhouse office on Friday, we saw a Canada goose of a different color! A group was on the other side of the pond and one had a white neck and multicolor head.... 

 Could see back of neck and head while it was nibbling....

 Marching to the pond....

Eagle Saturday!!

Near the Park office in the AM, this lovely eagle juvie landed in a tree...

 He then flew to end of branch....

 Taking off for the River....

We ran outside to see where the juvie landed, so here's a panorama where he was taking off from the left of the river center spit of banking....

 Here's a "key".... 

1. A second juvie who stayed on the mud spit

                          2. The juvie who had left the office tree

                          3. Displaced solar panels for osprey cam

                          4. The osprey nest platform where we saw the pelican!!!

Here's a closer pic of juvie, Polka-Dotty, probably looking for fish...

Surprise, surprise! An adult came to a tree across the road from the office just before quitting time!

We didn't see our nesting pair on the way out.

Happy Holidays

All the brightest wishes through

the holidays...through the year!

from Loretta & Frank

Bird of Prey Day 12-11-12

A falconer friend of our Park naturalist, Greg K., brought his red-tailed hawk to the Park fields...

 Removing hawk's hood...

 Stowing hood in special case on suspenders....

 Looking around in the nearby trees.....

 Everyone saw a possum! It was too large.....

 The hawk brought a much smaller critter back to it's keeper......

Even Better Birds of Prey! 12-11-12

Today we were as happy as witches in a broom factory!!

Always use binoculars! Was strolling down road in PM to look at nest. Sometimes there was a dark area that looked like a short branch. Went back to car for camera, and TAA DAH, an eagle was there!

(Sorry,some of these from the road are blurry.)

 A second eagle arrived!!!!

 One became a lookout...

 The bird in the back flew out on a limb....

 And then there were 2 again.....

 One at lookout post....

1999 Teal Turtle

At Santa's Southern VA workshop, picked up a 1999 Pontiac Trans AM. Called it turtle because of it's domed hood which my original doesn't have.

 Although it's hard to see, this one has a neat, sculpted hood. It's been retired to the garage and has engine trouble and is a lighter teal than the newer one. 

Guess Where I Am?

Daughter, Sherry, is in Atlanta and sent us this picture today! I knew she'd get to the ZOO!!....

Fox, 11-9 and Eagle Nest

Hooray, hooray! At Chelsea farm office yesterday, this super fox made our month! Haven't seen many animals except deer and seagulls lately at Park properties......

 He turned in the front field and looked towards our dirt road, but didn't leave....

 Tails! I won't guess if it's a red or grey fox, as we never saw the white tail tip that a red fox has...

 After searching for a long time, Foxy came to side of the building and went into the woods. Was spotted in the field an hour later and then several does and yearlings paid a visit......

Park Eagle Nest Before and After "Sandy"

 The nest now looks a little disheveled, but pretty much the same...

Evening Critters at Home

Possum has been visiting again.  Heads.....

 Tails!....

 Moseying along on the rail....

 Noise from outside made us check what was happening. Possum had gone into a trash can and was climbing out on a flagpole and broom handle!...

 Back again. There were some leftover cracker crumbs for the birds.....

 On Halloween, Binky decided to chew on Spidey who's been here for 6 years!!! Guess she didn't like him either like most of us!....

 When chewing is done, all toy animals are brought to the food dish. This usually happens in the wee hours. We used to think she was feeding her babies, but it could be that they are part of dinner!!.....

Home Critters!

SQUIRREL OLYMPICS, 7-30-12

Took place in neighbor's yard near tree and  wheelbarrow....

Here's Missy, one who comes to the window sill to ask for peanuts!! She may be the gymnast!....

 It's hard to tell, but this is one of the two baby squirrels we've seen. Awhile back we did see a female carrying a baby down and up another tree in next door yard......

 When peanuts are gone, they will eat Animal Crackers put out for the birds!....

 Broken flower in dish became a squirrel bath!.....

 Naptime....

 Other visitors stopped by since the hummers are gone. This is probably a Comma butterfly (could be a question mark)...

 We've had a few of these Red Admirals who come and go all day. It's a wonder they can fly!!....