Tag: #HudsonValleyWildlife

Raccoon on November 15

If this is still the same raccoon I have seen on a few other occassions at this treehole, it is getting bigger. It is either more skilled at finding food or has learned well the art of raiding garbage cans and dumpsters.

Raccoon on November 15

Do Raccoons Hibernate?

I did not think they did. When Idid a google search a lot of pest control sites popper up. However I did find information from NorthernWoodlands.org. According to their site “Although they don’t hibernate, raccoons do hole up in dens during the bitterest days of winter and are able to sleep for long stretches of time – up to a month – without heading out into the elements….Raccoons, though typically solitary creatures, will sometimes den in groups during very cold weather.” This period of less activity is entering a state of torpor, which helps them to conserve their energy. NorthernWoodlands also says they will kick other animals out of their den to take it over.

So it would seem this could be the same raccoon. They do eat a lot to build up fat in the autumn to help them survive the winter like other animals do.

Raccoon on November 15

This tree hole appears not to go further inside the tree, and I only see this raccoon here occasionally. I still think this is its occasional sleeping spot that gets sunlight at least half the day. Enjoy your Sunday and have a marvellous Monday!

Beaver?

When I came upon this very close to sunset, three ladies were watching it. I never saw it’s tail. They said it was slapping it on the water. I think it is either a muskrat or a beaver. I passed by this area earlier and heard a slap on the water and assumed it was a fish jumping. It may have been this animal.

Both beaver and muskrats can live in lodges. There was a lodge nearby and both live in lodges. This was in a wetlands area affected by the tide, off the Hudson River. I am going to say it may be a beaver. I have been by this area many times and have not seen it come this close. Hopefully it is not rabid. There was a case of a rabid beaver on the River that went after a kayaker I think last year.

Hopefully the Beaver and you have a Marvellous Monday!

Returning Raccoon

I thought when I caught this raccoon last time, it would be a one off chance encounter. I did catch it back at the same tree hole on another trip. It did wake up long enough to get it with its eyes open.

It seems the tree hole does not really go down from where it is as it seems wedged in there. It does not look comfortable, but it has returned. Have a great weekend.

Another Tree, Another Raccoon

I have been swinging by this tree at least once a week for the past few years hoping to find an owl. Instead this morning I saw a tail and an ear. It was a racccoon.

It is a different tree from the one I posted a picture or a raccoon poking out of the hole in June. When I went by this morning, nothing was waking it up, and there was a lot of noise nearby. I returned before sunset and had to wait a while before it started stirring. It was too dark to use a zoom lens. I got closer to the tree than I normally would, but not too close. These are cropped quite a bit.

Since I have not see another hole occupant before, I am guessing this may not be this raccoon’s normal home. Possibly he was on top of the sleeping pile if he was with family. Have a Happy Thursday!

Little Pest

Eagles will bother other eagles and osprey by trying to steal fish they catch. Who bothers an eagle? For one, some little birds will pester the eaglets after they fledge. On this day it happened to be a red-winged blackbird.

Little Pest

I have not checked up the eaglets in a while. I know one fell out of the nest before it was ready to fledge and broke its wing on the way down. It is at a rehab that specialises in eagles. Two remained and both fledged. Last I heard one flew to the river and never returned to the nest area. We are hoping it is hanging out down there. The third is a late bloomer. It only flies to the river to loose the pests that bother it. It is has been sticking closer to the nest.

Little Pest- Photo Bomb

In the above picture it looks like the red winged blackbird is having fun. It was trying to attack the eagle from behind it, at times hitting its tail area.

Little Pest- a gutsy bird

The red winged blackbird has a lot of guts landing next to the eaglet. So far this eaglet has no clue what to do about these little pests other than fly away. Have a great Thursday!

Young Osprey Hovering

On Sunday it was a windy day on the Hudson River, so the young osprey decided to test their wings. At least one of them, if not both flapped their wings enough to hover at most maybe a foot above the nest.

Getting Ready

Young Osprey Hovering

The young osprey are in the front of this picture and the mom is in the rear left hand side. The dad was away probably 99 percent of the time I was there.

Hover Practice

Young Osprey Hovering

The young osprey utilized the wind to go up and down. It never appeared to get higher than a foot above the nest.

Young Osprey Hovering

Mom appears to be judging his technique in the photos above and below. I wonder if she gave advice. The sibling looks like they are trying to avoid being stepped on with those talons.

Young Osprey Hovering

Dad Rewards the Practice With a Fish

Young Osprey Hovering – Dad arrives with a fish

It looks like the young osprey are looking forward to a snack. It was not as hot out. I’m not sure why the dad stayed away more. Maybe it was due to the size of the growing babies and lack of room in the nest. When he dropped this fish off he only stayed in the nest for about a minute or so. I hope you all had a great weekend. Happy Tuesday!

Osprey at 105 Degrees

How do osprey cope with temperatures above 100 degrees? There are several things I have seen them do.

One is they sit with their mouths open like their are panting. There is a reason they do this. According to Couchiching Conservancy:

Birds have no sweat glands, so the primary way of dissipating excessive heat is by panting, just like a dog. If you see a bird during the hottest part of the day, it will likely have its mouth open.  You may or not see that their throat is moving up and down, ridding heat from their body through the open bill.

Osprey at 105 Degrees

Another way they cope is the mom will take short flights from the nest and go into the water to cool off. I have seen her float for a little while then fly back to the nest. So swimming or taking a dip helps them cool off.

In addition, when the mom returns to the nest after a dip she will shield her young from the sun under her wings. The nest is exposed, so she is shading them from the sun like an umbrella. I have seen the babies huddle under her wings.

Osprey at 105 Degrees

Also, I have seen the mom flap her wings or stretch them out more as the temperature rises. According to Couchiching Conservancy:

Another method they employ is to spread their wings and body feathers which allows heat to dispel and cool air to circulate between them.

Like a crazy person, I stood out to watch them in the afternoon of the days the temperatures reached 100 plus. I brought plenty of water and did not stay near the amount of time I normally stay. Take precautions when out and about and have a great Sunday.

Red-Tailed Hawk on the Hudson

I stopped on a dark day after work to see the osprey, but only saw this red-tailed hawk up close instead. I have been to this location several times, but it was the first time I saw a red-tailed hawk there.

Red-Tailed Hawk on the Hudson

This park borders a large piece of private property that includes a field and a lot of woods, so this hawk has a variety of spots to chose from. I am guessing it does not go to the shoreline as much.

It was scanning the shoreline of the Hudson River under the tree it was perched on and watching the kingfishers and other birds pass by.

Red-Tailed Hawk on the Hudson

After it fanned out it’s wing feathers it flew off right over my head. I did not take pictures of its flight as I was sure I did not have the shutter speed high enough. It appeared to possibly land and catch something in a grassy area behind me. It was not my anticipated subject, but good to see all the same. Have a great weekend!

Close Encounter With an Osprey

I need to stop in at this little park on the Hudson River as much as I can. Luckily it is not too far off the beaten path from my long commute home from work. Two out of three times I have been there I have had close fly-bys of an Osprey scanning the river and creek for fish. It is not far from a nest, but I am not sure this osprey is attached to that nest.

Close Encounter with an Osprey

Some day I hope to see and get shots of it going in the water and coming up with a fish. I have seen an osprey fly to the nest from this direction with a fish, so I am hoping everything aligns some day. Have a great week!

Young Eagle on the River

I stopped by public land on my way home from work. This land is right on the Hudson River. I was able to see this young eagle not far from where I parked my car.

Young Eagle on the River

I also saw a full adult eagle fly by a few times seemingly checking up on junior. I was hoping it would fly out and catch a fish, but I was told he had just caught one and ate it prior to my arrival.

Young Eagle on the River

It was still nice seeing one regardless. Maybe one day I can watch them catch fish. Have a great weekend!