Archive for the ‘Birds’ Category
Changing Seasons
A Great Horned Owl in the treetops . Looks like there will be no Owlets again this year as the nesting site has been empty for the last week after being occupied for weeks prior. Considering the lateness of the season and the evident unsuitableness of the nesting site it looks like a bust for Mama Owl.
Breeding season has just begun for the Great Egret in this area and the usual Rookery is filling up fast with hundreds of birds fighting for the best spot in the trees
In no time at all there will be little Egrets all over the place.
Wildlife on the Lafayette River
I was recently asked to give a slide-show and talk a bit about the critters living on the Lafayette River for a symposium on improving the condition of the water and river in general hosted by the Elizabeth River Project The Elizabeth River Project in southeastern Virginia. and held at the Norfolk Zoo.
Below is the link for anyone who might like to see the slide-show.
Wildlife On The Lafayette River
Killdeer looking fro a snack behind the Norfolk Zoological Park at low tide
Bald Eagle in the Pinewoods this morning while I was looking for the resident Great Horned Owl Mom to see if she was nesting. Seen chasing a squirrel prior to this photograph.
Back On The River
As beautiful and relaxing as Alabama was It is nice to be back on the river again at first light watching the local wildlife getting a start on it’s day. The sun is so fine when it is reflected in the water at dawn and the mundane is transfixed by the soft morning glow.
Nothing like a catch at first light even if a bit on the small side as fish go.
The sun finds it way up filtered by a tree on the water and the reflection from what is left of an old dock. Taken from the 26th St. Bridge
An Immature Heron searches among pilings long worn beyond use other than a hiding spot for small fish and crabs
Finishing with a Kiss.
Home again.
Alabama Days
I recently returned from a week plus in a small town below Birmingham, Ala. visiting family. It is really nice to be in a small town for awhile. Walking in the woods right outside the door is a true treat. Of course it wasn’t so long ago that most Americans could walk out the door and into the forests and fields. After all it has only been in the last 60 years or so that we stopped being a place where most people were small farm owners or workers or lived in a town of less than a few thousand folks.
As we have spread out, the woods and fields and streams have taken a hit as concrete and plastic over ran them. And of course the many animals who inhabited these places are now gone to a great degree. As kids growing up in the south, my brother and I used to catch snakes, lizards, skinks, frogs and turtles all the time. Something today’s kids are hard pressed to even recognize more less find around their homes and neighborhoods. What a mess we have made. But there are still many critters out there squeezed into the last of the uncrapulated lands. Lets hope we get better in the coming generations.
Here’s a small horse farm across from the wooded hill my family lives on.
Looking out to the main road, a nice walk in the morning to get the paper and mail
Geese heading down to the lower pond first thing in the morning
A Pilated Woodpecker digs out some food from a small pine tree. Not so easy to find but you hear them in the woods often .
Lots of Hummingbirds to be seen if you have flowers and or a feeder.
Above is a bee chasing a hummingbird away from a feeder in the yard.
A pair of Yellow Shafted Flickers does a dance that lasted about ten minutes.
Summers Young Critters
Baby Racoon hang tight to each other in the absence of an adult. Considering the two adult Great Horned Owls in these woods it’s most likely a good idea for them to keep a low profile.I have seen these Owls consume an adult Possum. Not a push-over by any means.
A mess of Swallows living under a bridge are out in the morning enjoying the early part of the day and all the little bugs on the water for breakfast. Photographing these guys on the move is a true chore.
Hanging out in this cool spot under the main pine canopy on a scrub oak has become one of these young Owls favorite places to be. These youngsters are quickly getting their coloring but are less than half of adult size.
A quick stop along the way after being flushed from under a scrub oak. This Owl is about 5 months old .
This Immature Heron is fishing at low tide in a Gowrie Park creek off of the Lafayette River.
Young Owls Progress
I am amazed at how quickly these recently tiny Owlets have become grown and mature looking. Their flying skills have improved greatly their confidence in their capabilities are evident with every move.
Due to the overcast conditions this morning I was able to take them by surprise in the lower trees and bushes.
As soon as I was spotted the larger of the two youngsters was off heading for the top of as near by pine tree while the other one decided to wait me out and see what I might be about.
In the photo below the branch the Owl is on is about 5 feet off of the ground.
- Amazingly we still share the planet with these and many other animals ( at least in a few places). We each need a certain amount of room and the right environment to survive, but we are taking more and more from them at an alarming rate. As people destroy the last viable forested lands for raw materials and slash and burn rain forests for farmland, we’ll see fewer of these fantastic creatures, We have failed as stewards of the planet so far. Shame on us! I can’t help but think we can do much better than this.
Various Recent Shots
Seems like it has been some time and I am feeling a bit guilty for not being as consistent with keeping up this blog as I had told myself I would be in the beginning . No surprise to anyone who is a non-writer trying to keep up a journal or blog I am sure but still a bit more effort on my part is needed I am pretty sure if I am to keep this on the road at all.
This Egret was on Villa St. about 15 feet up a tree on a dead branch. Normally I find Osprey hanging out here so it was a bit of a surprise to find this critter instead.
This Osprey had just missed a fish and is shaking off the water from his failed attempt to catch a fish. I liked the way he was in mid-shake at the moment the shutter closed . An unusual photograph. Taken from the 26th St. Bridge
This Yellow Crown Night Heron was just hanging out on some dead wood in an inlet during high tide .
First thing on the 4th of July these Osprey in their nest off of Tidewater Drive near the overpass at Roland Park were being flushed out of the nest over and over by their parents for some early morning flight practice. Lots of fun watching them head back to the nest only to be rousted again by mom.
Anyway , more soon and as always if you want to use these or any of my photos please ask .
KennJ.
Owlet Update
After a few days of fruitless searching for my Owl friends I finally caught back up with the threesome today after wandering through the pines
feeding the Deer Flies for 30 min. or so and right before giving up for the morning. I sighted the Mother Owl of to my left heading away from some unhappy Blue Jays who had most likely been defending their nest from her.As is normal the Owlets were just a bit below her close together catching the early morning sunlight on a partially dead tree.
I had hoped to catch a few photos of these guys flying this morning but the Flies had there own ideas and my status as a meal finally caused me to throw in the towel for the morning and make plans to return with some protective clothing for a longer stay in the woods.
All photographs are the property of Kenn Jolemore. Please ask if you would like to use any of them.
Photos from Southside Virginia 
