Normally I don’t say where I find most of the wildlife I do. Loons are on most ponds and lakes in the Adirondacks that are long enough to host them and with enough fish. These loons are on Loon Lake, of all places, in the Adirondack Mountains of New York.
The baby’s legs are straddled out. It seemed to have a hard time balancing itself on the parent’s back at times.
This was the first time I was lucky enough to see a baby riding on its parent’s back. I have been up looking for this in June and July in previous years, but missed out in the past. I went up to stay for two nights, and made three kayak trips on Loon Lake. I saw them each time.
This parent had babysitting duty. The other parent was out and about feeding itself and came back periodically to try to feed the baby.
The other parent returning with the fish.
I was told by someone who lived along the lake that there were two eggs, but one never hatched. Most of the land around the lake is private residences or residences as investment property/ rental.
The baby was all tuckered out or knackered.
I probably took one hundred pictures on the first two of the three kayaking trips I made this short vacation. Get out and experience new things! Nature is a beauty to behold.
I first saw the eaglet not flying on Sunday. Today the DEC and a rescue group, Friends of Feathered and Furry Wildlife Center sent representatives to try to capture the eaglet. It has been grounded since Sunday after it left the nest.
When they came multiple people helped look for her in the woods. She had jumped off a cliff onto a tree branch and the consensus was watch and if she was grounded again contact them. FFF’s representative, Mike, gave me his number to send him pictures of the wings. Later in the day when a few others saw a disastrous trip from a tree to the ground, I contacted Mike. He got the ball rolling for the DEC and a State Environmental Conservation Policeman to come.
Last image right before it was caught. This was with my camera, the rest are taken with my phone. This was in the woods, so very low light and early evening.
Those of us waiting for people to try a second attempt at rescuing it were trying to keep an eye on the eaglet in the woods. She slowly walked up the hill taking breaks. It was a steep hill and no doubt was heading up to try to jump off the top again. As another person with me, Kathleen said, he was not getting lift. When they came Mark went above the cliff and I walked up the steep hill to try to pinpoint where the eaglet was. We also had two other ladies below the hill looking for the eaglet. It was hiding low in the brush. When the eaglet called we knew it was between Mark and I. Kevin Wamsley from the State Environmental Conservation Police and Chris Plummer from the Dept of Environmental Conservation came up the hill and looked between Mark and I. They very quickly found the eaglet. It was very close to where I was. Hence the above picture. I went partially down the hill and let the rescuers do their thing.
Look at those talons! Do not try to rescue an eagle on your own. Call in the proper authorities like the DEC, State Environmental Police, or a certified eagle rehabber.
Kevin and Chris quickly with a net and blanket captured the eaglet with only a slight chase. They walked it down the hill a safer way, then put it in a container, and then into a vehicle. Tomorrow it is being picked up by Mike of FFF.
Putting her in the box. They put her in a small box so she is not going to move around much, which should prevent further injuries.
Why was it not picked up earlier? There are evidently other eaglets in the area that were slow to fly when they left the nest. One started flying yesterday or today. The difference was this eaglet has several feathers missing in its wings and tail. They think that is what is hindering it. Because of the other eaglets similar situations in this part of the state, they may have taken a wait and see approach.
The eaglet was taken away by the New York State Environmental Conservation Police today.
I hope to be able to get updates on this eaglet’s progress. A lot of people tried to help today morning and night. We are all relieved the eaglet is getting care and will not be susceptible to predators another night.
I saw this eaglet on the ground not moving around much. It was near the nest tree. When the wind picked up it did walk and flap its wings. Did not see real flying effort.
The man who lives closest to the nest claims it is fine and he has seen it fly. I was there on and off for about 4 hours. I did not see it fly. The parent came by a few times and sropped food off in the nest, but no one saw it drop food off to this one.
This was at the edge of a field. Later it walked on a seldom used dirt road.
Its wing feathers don’t look to healthy. Maybe that is the issue. I am hoping it can get up to a branch tonight and fly to a higher branch. I am concerned about the coyotes, bobcats, and fox in the area getting it.
Does anyone have a clue? Someone else was messaging someone tonight about this eaglet. It looks like it has a problem.
Been staking out this tree along with many others in the woods since last year. Today it paid off. I finally saw a head stick out several times and a parent come by and feed it. It appears to be a female downie woodpecker feeding its young.
It was a dark, cloudy day and this was in a dark area of the woods. It was not a great day for camera settings. Could not avoid having graininess in this shot with the widest opening an F10 and a very high ISO. Here’s hoping I can do this again with better lighting conditions in the next week before these little ones fledge. Have a great rest of your weekend!
I saw a bird you do not usually see hanging out in this area, an American Coot. It was all by itself on the Hudson River. It was hanging near a group of Mallard ducks, but not too near. Whenever it got too close, they chased it back. The mallards had noticeably bigger bodies than the coot. No other coots have been seen with this one.
We are in the upper part of their non breeding area for this region. I am guessing this is one born last year, who is not ready to mate yet or does this one somehow know about the fires? I believe the mating region is in Canada.
It seemed busy eating aquatic plants. The first few times I went, I never saw it get out of the water. All three pictures in this post were taken on different days in different lighting conditions/ times of day.
When I went late this morning, I hung out for a while. It finally walked out of the water and onto the shore this area has during low tide. It was worth the wait. His legs looks like lizard legs. American Coots are not considered ducks. I’m sure their legs and feet are one of the reasons why.
I was not sure what I would get out of this trip, knowing it was late morning to noon. That is usually not a good time because of lighting. Next time don’t let that hold you back. There are things to see even during poor lighting conditions!
I saw a female duck mostly light with a stipe from its beak to the back of its head. It was with a baby on the Hudson River. The male who would occasionally stay with it when it was on land was a Mallard. I am told this is a manky mallard. My understanding is this happens when a wild mallard mates with a farm duck. (If I am wrong let me know). It is a variation of a mallard.
I did not see the mother and chick last weekend, but may check this weekend to see if they are still around. They may have moved with the tide to another area, or possibly a predator got the baby. With all the hawks, eagles, and turtles around it is always a danger.
There are new things to discover if you just go out and search for them. Have a great rest of your weekend!
I hear frogs many times I hike near water. However, I usually do not spot them. A friend I was hiking with spotted this guy first. He stayed there for a long time below a trail bridge as interested in us as we were with him.
I like the trees, sky, and wetlands view through his eye.
Enjoy your weekend! Try to see things through someone else’s eyes.
When we stop seeing things through the eyes of others, we risk loosing the ability to help them see through our eyes.
I went on a long hike to a wetland area with a trail next to it on two sides. I did not know what I would see. This was private land with public access on their trails. They do have someone come by in a truck to make sure people are following the rules. The main ones are stay on the trails and keep your dog on a lead or leash. I did manage to get off a couple of quick shots on the fly of wood ducks.
Female with a baby
I found them to be like other wood ducks- skittish around people. The female and the baby mostly hid amongst the plants. This was the only shot I could get on these two.
Male by itself
The male I was able to get off a few shots. He was walking back and forth on this log. There was a big nest in a tree in the middle of the water. I am guessing it was a hawk’s nest. I am wondering if they had more ducklings, but lost them to predators. These were taken from a long distance with a zoom lens and are heavily cropped. Get out and enjoy the great outdoors, and explore new trails.
You can’t soar like an eagle when you surround yourself with turkeys.
Unknown
I saw wild turkeys a few times this week. Once two were crossing a hiking trail in front of me. I got a few pictures of one of them and kept my distance. The other retreated to to woods area.
Stepped into a sunny spot. Lucky for me. This one kept putting out his tail feathers and bringing them back in. Maybe it was trying to attract a mate?
The other I wish I got a picture of, but realise it is good I did not try. I see wild turkeys along a highway leading south to NYC frequently. I saw one running on the shoulder like it was commuting with the rest of us on the road, just outside NYC. It would have made a funny shot. It was running like a bank robber in Manhattan. Yes, outside NYC cars can go highway speeds, but it is pretty much impossible inside Manhattan. I guess that fits in with other news of the week.
It is in the shade here.
Be careful who you spend your time with. Choose to be around those who lift you up and not bring you down. I think that explains the quote. Turkeys are probably used in the comparison because they spend so much time on the ground.
I went to a place to walk I have not been before. It was my second hiking location of the day and it was less than two hours to sunset. I was happy to see an owl flying in a field heading towards a woods. I followed it. I did not find the parent, but I found one owlet in a nest and one in a branch of the same tree. I could only get the one in the branch from very far away and with the wind it was hard to get a sharp shot.
Great Horned Owlet staring at me. Most of the time it was following its parent with its head and eyes.
I saw these from a distance. This are greatly cropped. A parent from flying tree to ground to tree nearby hunting. I am pretty sure this is the one in the nest.
It was very windy, but it was still great to catch these even from a distance. I could even faintly hear the owlets screech for food. This made my day! Take joy in the little things in life. Have a great week!
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