Osprey Cam and House Wrens

Breakfast for everyone....

The three chicks! One is at home and there are two foster boys found out of nests and given to rehabber who brought them to us. They had been banded by our naturalist, Greg K. One came all the way from Solomons!..
Waiting for dinner. Earlier, the adult female flew out of the nest and did a bellyflop right in the water! Had not seen that before. She returned and the smallest chick was able to get under her damp wing....
"♫ ♪ You make me feel so happy! ♪ ♫"
After singing his real estate jingle for weeks, a prospective client appeared on July 14 at this wren house.....

Here's Ms. Wren above the h0use. She's been redecorating since and this AM, brought some lovely white feathers for bedding....

Trees Down at Park 7-13-10

Here's our shed! The root ball of tree is in the center. The black canister in lower left is where the gas for AC & heating in Visitor Center is pumped...

The depression in foreground is where the tree grew, so it got blown over the shed!!...
Here it is going down to the River....Here's the root ball of an even larger tree that grew further down the bank and was hit by the first tree falling, as well as high winds.....

One 0f many more. This one is near a small parking lot..

Butterfly Count 7-12-10

The count took place in Patuxent River Park and into Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary next door.

Here is a Question Mark. How do we know???.....

..... The silver curve marking on underwing has a dot also. Almost identical species, the Comma, does not have the dot....(what tiny nametags!)..
A Snout......
This is a Hackberry butterfly. Notice the neat, white tips on the antennae....

It worked it's way up from naturalist Stephanie's belt to her shoulder & then her nose!!! It also landed on my wrist. Earlier in the day one landed on one of our volunteers. They presumably want salt from skin...

Along the Butterfly Count Trail 7-12-10

Saw our turtle friend again and it was wearing it's nametag!!!!! WhooHooo.....

Can just barely see this small blue butterfly at the bottom. Some are calling it a summer blue, but new name is not always seen in guide books.....

Loved seeing this nest!! We always see it when crossing the Mataponi Creek on the wooden tour bridge from Patuxent River Park to Merkle (State) Wildlife Sanctuary. Now we can see chicks---A Family Portrait....
Here is the osprey platform at an observation stop in Merkle. She is the female that always squawks a lot. We think she just does not like paparazzi stopping by!..

What a surprise to see who this was! Tree was along bank up from the boardwalk deck on River....

Butterfly Count Trail II 7-12-10

Next to the River at Merkle, the tall meadow rue has grown above the young cattails.....

Another osprey nest further downriver at Merkle. We can see it from the boardwalk deck. How many chicks???...don't know, but maybe 3....
Heard loud squawking and saw 2 herons flying above the trees far away....

Shorty 7-9-10 and Turtles

This morning, our cheerful friend Shorty came for breakfast. After eating some peanuts from his pile, he stuffed his mouth and took them to......

...a more scenic spot!.....
Lo and behold, it's a turtle named Jo! If it doesn't become part of her collection.....

....and we see this one again, it will surely get named Jo, too!...

Osprey Cam at Patuxent 7-6-10

Chick on new brown blankey.....

Almost looks like playing hopscotch!!...

Mom and Baby Buddies.....
"Oh boy, food!!!" Note both parents have a foot on that fish. The male had not cleaned the head---they all started eating immediately....