Tuesday's Treats 2-19-13

For a misty-moisty day, it's surprising we saw this variety. Besides bad weather, most pics were taken through glass.

Early in the AM, an eagle head could be seen in the nest. She was there in the PM and probably Dad eagle was flying away from the nest area. Probably shopping for dinner!....

 

One of the juvies was perched near the office. It left, of course, but thankfully returned for quite awhile...

 Down in the River was a male Common Merganser, one of a group....

 Looking through the back window to check for ospreys, here was a pileated woodpecker on old oak tree....

Who's this shuffling through the leaves?....

 It's Mr. Rufous-sided Towhee with sunflower seed in his beak....

 

OSPREY Alert from naturalists in other building! They said it was perched on top of the camera platform, but was down in the water below when I could see it.....

It took a bath!!!!.....

BIG surprise at end of day! When getting into car, heard osprey chirps, but saw nothing.  A few yards down the road, our bird was perched in a tree!!!....

BIG Surprise 2-13-13

 Got a shocking email and pics from Patuxent naturalists!!!!! Probably the earliest osprey ever! We'll see if this platform is his former home, or he's just visiting!..

2 and 4-Legged Park Animals

On Sat., Feb. 9 at Patuxent River Park, in early AM, the eagle nest appeared MT....

In the afternoon, probably Mom eagle was there.  She kept watch toward her left and all of a sudden, another eagle flew straight toward us, made a U turn......

 ...and landed in the nest!!!! The light brown, blurry streaks show his approach!!...

 Both together! He may have brought food, as her head went down into the nest......

 

 On Tuesday, Feb. 12, finally got a picture of one of the juvies who must own this perch. It's visible, but pretty far away from the side of the Visitor's Center.....

 Here's the Chelsea pond flock on Friday, 2-15. (Need to be enlarged)

 Canada Geese are so organized, it's something to see.  Except for initially flying into the water, they always walk single-file in and out of the pond, using their favorite paths! Here some are leaving for the grassy field behind the pond....

 After seeing the flock, we got the Herd!!! (Need to enlarge these, too.) Deer started coming across the front yard field from left to right, same as these pictures were taken...

 Near the center, most of the stags were together.  There were about 6 or so.....

 Some of the right side group. We counted about 26 in all!....

Tuesday (2-5) at the Park

Early Tuesday morning, there was a slightly suspicious lump seen from the road!......

But, must have been flugg!....

Over the river near the office, a white-tailed bird was seen flying low. It landed on the osprey cam nest!!! My, what a large head you have!....

There were TWO!!!! Some HP was observed.....

 Two heads are better than one!....

Flock of Eagles 1-26-13

AM

When arriving at Park Visitor Center, we saw many large, dark birds in trees nearby.  Visibility was dim and we assumed they might be vultures, but then the familiar chirp/squeal was heard and we knew they were eagles. They started flying towards the river before we could get any closeup pics and we saw these four, 2 adults & 2 juvies on the Jug Bay ice......

 # 5, a juvie, was upriver from the others....

 # 6, a juvie was down by the edge of the river channel....

 # 6 is on the left and flapping was seen near the dead tree on right...

Somewhat blurry, but an eagle silhouette near right end of tree. # 7?.....

 # 5 gets help from another adult trying to remove twigs from the ice.....

 

 And then there were 3 (in original group)....

 

Back near the office, this juvie returned to the trees where all had clustered earlier....

 And then there was sun!!!! for awhile.....

PM

Surprise, surprise! This eagle was in trees on right side of road very close passed the office. We had just spoken about driving slowly when leaving, as that's a spot where they sometimes perch!....

Car didn't seem to bother it and was able to lower the side window for a pic....

 Another surprise! A nest occupant was there!!!!.....

 Serious nestorations....

 

Signs and Banners

At Chelsea (farm office) exhibit shop, we made sets of these for an upcoming event sponsored by one of the nature centers. Two of these 3' by 8' banners.....

Made ten 32" by 48" road signs and will be making ten 18" by 24" directional signs with the mineral logo designed by our newest graphic artist...  ;>)

New Year Critters

At Chelsea farmhouse office, the gang was all there!....

Two red-shouldered hawks were in a field and flew up as the car approached.....

Longshot from the Park Entrance road of the eagle nest at dusk.
Although no one got pictures, we have had two unusual bird sightings at the Park~~~a brown pelican and a golden eagle!!!!