Tag: #HudsonValleyWildlife

Cardinals

What do you do on an unseasonably warm November day? I returned to the same spot I went to last week, a park on the Hudson River. I forgot to bring bird seed, but someone had already put out bird seed. The majority of the birds visiting were titmouse, but I also got to see male and female cardinals and some bluejays.

This was the closest I have been to cardinals. The ones who visited my feeder came quickly and left. I sat on a big rock to take these photos and I have a zoom.

I plan to return to this park again a few times before it snows hopefully. This time the titmouse were flying right at me and buzzed over my head as I sat taking photos. They were too fast for me to capture. Get out and enjoy those sunny autumn days before the snow arrives.

Titmouse

Can a bird be this friendly? I came across this friendly bird on the start of a hiking trail on the Hudson River. It flew to a tree near where I was standing, quite close actually. It took me back.

Tufted Titmouse I believe.

I suspected someone was feeding the birds. A friend confirmed to me that was the case. She said they will land on someone’s hand if you have seed in it at this location.

I did not see many birds on my short kayak trip on the Hudson, but was surprised to see this bird so up close on the trail next to river. I guess the moral is explore many spots, you will experience something new.

Green Heron Catching Dinner

Late afternoon into the early evening can be great light if things work out for photographing wildlife. A fellow photographer joined me on this trip. She joined me in kayaking this body of water.

First, I saw this green heron catch a dragonfly to eat. There are lots of dragonflies at this location. One even landed on my zoom lens and parked for a little while.

These may not be all the same fish. I actually watched him catch a few fish in not a long time period.

First, he spears it.
Then, he manoeuvres it around to swallow it.

I can’t believe such a small bird was eating all these fish in a small time frame.

Thanks you green heron for showing me your catch!

It is amazing what you can see if you get outside and go slow. My friend heard him before we saw him. If you go fast, or have on earphones etc. you may miss a lot. Slow down and enjoy nature!

More Green Herons

What times a great for getting wildlife pictures? Early evening and early morning are great times to get wildlife pictures in open areas. If you have the sun behind you and facing the animal it work well lighting wise.

Again, I find these green herons easier to get pictures of on a kayak. Sometimes I move past them without realising there are there if they are in the plants.

These pictures were taken in early evening. I personally like the lighting best this time of day.

Looks like a mohawk!

Enjoy the rest of the warmer weather. Get out an enjoy all nature has to offer.

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Here is another bird I saw one a local body of water that they are working to clear of invasive plants. It is bigger than the green heron, but much smaller than the egret. This is a juvenile little blue heron.

There were no signs of any adults around. So this heron must be on his own now. Juveniles are all white with a two toned bill. An adult little blue heron is blue-grey with a purple-maroon head and neck.

Focusing on what is under him in the water.
I did not see him catch anything at this location.
He is at another location to try to catch something.
Sticking to the edge of where the water has been cleared to fish.

This bird is either in a bad mood or intensely focused.

He did not seem to spot any fish.
No fish. He had to settle for a dragonfly.

Again I want to thank the local municipality for attempting to remove the invasive plants. I understand this bird is a short visitor in our area. It may only show up for a week before it moves on. Removing the plants ensures it had a spot locally to make a layover.

Green Heron

What is one sign of a healthy body of water? If there is an abundance of wildlife it is more likely to be healthy.

A local body of water had many invasive plants cover the surface. There was a lack of wildlife on this body of water due to little clear view of it. The town is having someone pull up the weeds with a machine on a boat. He is making pathways and the wildlife is returning.

The green heron is just one of the birds you can now see on this lake/ pond along a creek.

This heron caught a little fish.
He paraded around with it before he ate it. I think he may have been showing off for me, which I have no problem with.

These herons were along the pathway cleared by the machine, but in the weeded areas right off it. I have other birds outside these areas. Towns and cities try to keep invasive species down in your bodies of water. The wildlife will appreciate it.

Great Blue Heron

Is this a baby? I had heard one baby was out of the nest. What do you think? The story is these herons fight a lot. One may have fallen out. If this is a baby it is doing better than its siblings still in the nest. Sink of swim it is feeding itself it appears. I did not see the parents drop anything off for this one. I visited this one by kayak.

It was at the water’s edge at low tide.
It appeared to be about the same size as the ones in the nest. It did not fly, but stayed in the mud flats area at the water’s edge. It seemed unfazed by me.
This may be the same one later on in the day. It stayed on a pile of wood at the water’s edge. It did not fly and spent most of the time preening.

What is your verdict? Youngster? Or not?

Wildlife near the Hudson River

I went kayaking again starting on a creek that empties into the Hudson River. The river is thriving more than in the past and there are a lot of different kinds of birds and other critters to see along its banks.

This creek has a lot of heron.
Off towards the river
I have no idea what this eagle brought up from the creek.
They were holding onto something.
A juvenile eagle came looking to snatch away whatever the adult caught.
Another adult came to chase the younger one away.
There are a lot of herons in or near the river.
I did not see whom this osprey was trying to impress, but he kept flying around me with the fish. I’m sure it was not me, but he still gave me the opportunity to get some shots off.
Heron flying over the river.

Get out and enjoy nature! It is amazing what is just outside your door.

First Kayak Trip of the Year

The weather cooperated. It was time to take my first run of the year. I went to a body of water that empties into the Hudson River. Lots of men fish along it in various spots.

There is an abundance of wildlife along this body of water. Eagles from various local nests come here for sticks , mud, and grass. They also pop in for some fish. Many nests have eaglets this year and most are not quite ready to fly, so the parents use this location as there go to home supply store and supermarket.

First, I saw Great Blue Herons nesting. There were actually several herons on this creek. Some may have been stopping by or lived here. There was a nest above this nest in the same tree. There is also a pile of sticks near the bottom of this tree on the water that looks like a huge nest.

An eagle flew over me while on my way towards the river. I wish I had seen him approaching. Maybe next time. There is a nest on private land where this body of water meets the river. I had a view from my kayak and saw one eaglet and one adult. Being closer to the river I could not get a steady picture with my kayak moving around so much.

All of these photos were taken at quite a distance away with a zoom and heavily cropped.

At the end of my trip one of the fishermen came over and helped me load my kayak back onto my car. Something that is typical at this small boat launch area from what I have heard. It was a good thing. My arms were tired at the end of this trip.

Get out an enjoy nature and stay safe.

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