Sunday morning at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge

"I see you."

It is Sunday, the day after the Patriots win, I woke up early and traveled down to Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown, Rhode Island.  The hope was to see raptors and owls along with sea ducks.  The temperature was around the freezing mark with only a slight wind, and it was comfortable out.  There were a large number of common crows flying all over the place.  In the fields, there were many deer feeding.  You can tell it has not been on harsh winter so far since the deer all looked healthy and well fed.

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer

Travel down to the Flint rocks, hoping to see a snowy owl and sea ducks, but all I visualized was one out in the distance.  I watched the waves crashing on the rocks and I am sure this will pick up as the storm goes by later today and tonight.

Waves Coming in

I did meet a fellow photographer and we talked about sightings he was going to look for the owl, however, is knowledge of the last sighting was about 1 1/2 to 2 weeks ago.  The other day around 7 AM.  He did see an owl cruising the fields.  It was probably a short-eared owl.  I did not see any raptors or owls while I was there.

I finished off the morning at third beach, looking over the salt marsh.  The water was filled with Canada geese and some Brant, a pair of Bufflehead, and a group of black ducks and looking closely at the picture on the computer.  You can see that there are some hybrid black duck/mallards in this flock.

Pair of Bufflehead, you can see the brilliant colors on the Drake

Pair of Bufflehead, you can see the brilliant colors on the Drake

Flock of American Black duck with hybrid Black/Mallard

Finishing up and heading home.  I checked out some of the spots where there have been cackling geese and some other key species hanging out with the Canada geese.  All the fields I checked were empty so the geese had not left their night roosting area to come out feeding.  Black/mallards

Bits and Pieces

Sun Setting at Gooseberry

Since Thursday morning, every day I have been out photographing and in today's blog, I will present samples from each day.

We started out early Thursday morning, hoping to capture some of the Lyrid meteors.  A number of meteors were seen but not captured, however, we got a photograph of the Milky Way.

Milky Way at the Stone Barn

On Friday, travel down to Allens Pond Audubon sanctuary, hoping again to capture piping plovers.  But, we were shut out.  However, a snowy egret presented itself in the pannes, and posed for us.

Snowy Egret in the Pannes

Saturday, I joined a group at Great Meadows National Wildlife refuge.  Starting out predawn and when the sun came up, it illuminated the cattails.  In the middle of one of the ponds, a great number of swallows were flying around and resting on the bushes sticking out of the water.  Most of the swallows were tree swallows, but mixed in were a number of barn swallows.  A pair of Canada geese got into a fight.  Both sexes of the red-winged blackbird were present.  A hen and drake wood duck gave a good opportunity for photography.  A great surprise, feeding among the the reeds along the waters edge was a female orchard oriole.

Swallows in Action

Wood Ducks

Female Orchard Oriole

Canada Geese Fighting

Cattails at Sunrise

Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Saturday night, we watched a great sunset at Gooseberry and some of the best color occurred 15-20 minutes after sunset.  Of course, as usual, a lot of the people that came to watch the sunset left as soon as the sunset, instead of staying since some of the best color occurs after the sun has set.  We also photograph the half-moon, and Jupiter up to the left of the moon.

Color in the Clouds, after Sunset at Gooseberry

Half-Moon

Half-Moon, and Jupiter

Sunday, was a trip to Colt State Park in Bristol, Rhode Island, where there was a flight of 50 to 75 Brant.  Also, a snowy egret again gave us some great views.

Atlantic Brant in flight

Snowy Egret

Monday, we went out to Gooseberry and Acoaxet, in Westport.  We had Herring gulls fighting over a clam, a female American goldfinch posed for us, and a great egret was looking for for food.

American Goldfinch

Herring Gulls Squabbling over a Clam

Great Egret Looking for Food

Real early Thursday morning I leave for a long weekend photographing the hill country of Texas.

Using the coupon code mborn you will receive a 15% discount on any or all of the Topaz plug-ins.



Help Support my blog by purchasing from Amazon. Clicking on this link and utilizing the link does not cost you anything.
BUY FROM AMAZON