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Bird and Nature PhotographyBritish Columbia, Canada |
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| Photo Blog 2009-07-31 Last night I decided to go check on the nesting Common Nighthawk. Incubation time is about 20 days and while it is uncertain how long she has been on eggs, she was spotted about two weeks ago. I got there as the sun was going down and had the chance to observe the nesting area and egg as she was not there.
As you can see there is only one egg and they literally nest on the open ground. She returned a few minutes after I arrived.
This shot from another angle as I was leaving.
Fingers crossed the nest is successful and I have an opportunity to photograph the hatchling. This afternoon I stopped by the Bald Eagle nest. The fledglings have both been out flying around for awhile now. They have also started spending nights away from the nest, so it could be any day and they will be gone.
It has been fun watching these two grow and get to this point.
| Home | 2009-07-26 While working on some photos for a newsletter today I got a call from a friend in regards to a nesting Common Nighthawk. This was a welcomed call as I have seen them before, but have not been able to get any photographs. So this would be a new bird for my photo life list. The fact it was nesting would mean being careful so as not to disturb or alarm the bird in any way. The term nest does not really apply to Common Nighthawks as they will usually lay their eggs on open ground. With their colouring they will blend in and can be difficult to spot.
Even when in close proximity you could glance right over them.
I was fortunate in knowing where to look as the further away you get, the more difficult it becomes. | Home | 2009-07-25 While watching the Osprey nest a Mute Swan and lone cygnet went by along the far river bank.
If this is the same swan I saw here on 2009-06-12 it has gone from eight cygnets to one. That is quite the attrition rate! Speaking of attrition rates, there has been no change at the Osprey nest. There are still two chicks and they continue to grow.
As you can see they are now exercising their wings.
This one exercising after the male had delivered a fish and before being fed by the female. | Home | 2009-07-24 Still not much happening at Reifel but the Herons are always around.
The pleasant surprise of this afternoons walk was a cooperative juvenile Great Horned Owl that had been napping in a tree along the inside trails until I came along.
While it may look aggresive here it is actually just yawning before moving higher up in the tree and resuming its nap.
| Home | 2009-07-22 Flight time has begun at the Bald Eagle nest.
The fledglings are now taking off for short jaunts around the area ...
... and then returning to the nesting tree.
Another flight shot success today was finally getting one of a Eurasian Collared-Dove. While not a native bird to BC there population has been increasing in the Delta area with a few of them nesting nearby the Eagle nest.
| Home | 2009-07-19 On checking the Osprey nest yesterday it appears the smallest chick has not survived leaving two in the nest.
The two surviving chicks continue to grow and remain active around the nest.
Today the Bald Eagle fledglings were very active moving around the nesting tree and exercising.
There was also a little bickering between the two in the nest with the Male in the background.
| Home | 2009-07-14 Reifel has been fairly quiet birding wise of late, but I did manage a couple of shots of other subjects.
The Raccoon lazing away the afternoon in a tree ... ... and a Dragonfly alighting on a branch amongst some flowers.
One place I had not been in a while was the Tsawwassen Ferry Causeway. On checking that out I noticed a Willet along the south side.
From my photo records this is the same time it returned last year. As I have mentioned previously in my blog the amazing thing about this Willet is it has now returned to winter in this spot for about 14 years. Last stop of the day was the Bald Eagle nest. The fledglings are spending more time out on the branches around the nest exercising their wings.
| Home | 2009-07-10 Just how big are the Bald Eagle fledglings now? Here is the adult male with one of the fledglings on a branch beside the nest.
Here are the two fledglings together at the side of the nest.
And finally a little exercising and good display of a fledglings wings.
| Home | 2009-07-09 Things are busier now at the Osprey nest with the extra mouths to feed.
The chicks are also more active moving around the nest and checking things out.
While I was expecting the Bald Eagle fledglings to be more active and exercising on the outside of the nest, they did not cooperate.
| Home | 2009-07-06 Today on visiting Reifel to look for the Sandhill Cranes I did manage to find them on the outside trail.
Unfortunately the pair was foraging by themselves and it appears the chick has not survived. | Home | 2009-07-05 In the middle of last month my computer started acting up and eventually got to the point it would only work for a few minutes. I did manage to leave a brief note on the blog that I was having computer issues and as a result the blog, photo series and galleries were not being updated. Fortunately everything was backed up. My new computer was delivered on Friday and after getting everything setup and reinstalled it is catch up time. June’s blog has been updated and can be found here. I have been going to Reifel to try and get more photos of the Sandhill Cranes and chick but have not seen them. Apparently they’re staying out of site in the islands in the southwest pond. I was also told that the second egg was unsuccessful. Not wanting to leave empty handed one afternoon I took this photo of some Mallard chicks on my way out.
While watching and waiting for some activity at the Osprey nest one afternoon a Raccoon family climbed up a tree a few feet away from me and curled up for an afternoon nap. While out of site in amongst the branches most of the time, one kit did poke its face out briefly for me.
How can you not enjoy moments like this. As for the Osprey, all three chicks appear to be doing well and are growing.
| Home | Previous Photo Blogs | 2010-01
| 2010-02 | |
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© Jim Martin |
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