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Archive for the ‘wildlife’ Category

Most of the turtles that I see are either Painted Turtles or Red-eared Sliders, so I am delighted when I spot a member of another turtle species. Last Wednesday I was thrilled to spot several Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata), a relatively uncommon turtle species in my area. Spotted turtles tend to be found in marshy areas rather than in ponds, and it was indeed in a small wetland area at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge that I photographed this turtle.

Species names can sometimes feel confusing or inappropriate, but the name of “Spotted Turtle” is perfect for these turtles that, as you can see in the photos below, have small yellow spots on their bodies and shells. For the first time this season I was walking around with my 180mm macro lens attached to my camera, hoping to photograph some butterflies, dragonflies, or other insects, but I came up empty-handed in that regard. I was happy, though, to be able to get a few shots of these little Spotted Turtles, perched on a log as they basked in the warmth of a sunny March day.

Spotted Turtle

spotted turtle

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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It is always fun to photograph familiar subjects in an unexpected environment. This past week I spotted a male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) amidst the rocks and other debris at the edge of the water at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge rather than in the vegetation where I normally see cardinals.

I was delighted to be able to capture a series of images as the cardinal moved about on the rocks and eventually made his way to the water. He dipped his head to take a drink, but his face was completely hidden from view, so I was not able to capture that moment.

On the whole, though, I really like the balance I was able to achieve in showing both the primary subject and the environment in which I found him—the brightness of the cardinal’s red body definitely helped him to stand out from the somewhat cluttered background and foreground despite the fact that he filled only a small part of the frame.

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Most of the nests of Ospreys(Pandion haliaetus) that I have seen in the past were in trees, but sometimes ospreys build their nests in readily manmade structures. On Tuesday I spotted an osprey couple that appeared to have taken over a nest on a channel marker in the waters off of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

In past years I have seen osprey activity at this same channel marker, but do not know for sure if ospreys were successful in hatching eggs there. The nest takes up only half of the space on the marker and there looks to be enough room to accommodate a second osprey couple. However, I doubt that the current occupants would tolerate the presence of neighbors that close, so it seems unlikely that I will see side-by-side nests in the future.

osprey nest

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Like many other local photographers, I am thrilled that Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) have returned to our area—they spend the colder months in warmer locations. On Tuesday, I captured several shots of one of the ospreys as it soared above me at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Ospreys hover in the air a bit, so it is a bit easier to get shots of them flying than it is with eagles and hawks. However, it is still a challenge to get shots that have good wing and head positions. I was happy that the osprey was flying towards me in both of these images and its eyes are somewhat visible.

More osprey are sure to arrive soon and I am sure that I will get some better (and closer) shots in the upcoming months. I am content with these shots that that document the fact that the ospreys have returned, yet another sign of the arrival of spring.

Osprey

osprey

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

 

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I am not sure what was going on Tuesday in the waters off of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, but two Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) were perched on a structure and an aggressive Osprey(Pandion haliaetus) kept dive-bombing them repeatedly. The osprey would fly by right above them and each time the eagles would rear up with their talons extended as they screamed at the osprey. I took the shot below from a long way away, but it gives you a sense of the action.

Several of my friends on Facebook suggested that this might have been a territorial dispute. Others posited that the eagles had stolen a fish from the osprey and the osprey was angry about it. Another friend provided a link to a fascinating article at Natural Habitat Adventures entitled “Eagles and Ospreys: When Birds of Prey Clash.” According to the article, eagles will sometimes steal osprey chicks and ospreys may attack eagles while they are eating. It is too early for there to be chicks—ospreys have only recently returned to our area—but it is certainly possible that this was a food fight.

eagles and osprey

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Bright colors are starting to emerge in the landscape as we move deeper into spring, a welcome sight after the long gray days of winter. I was delighted to see some equally bright colors in the feathers of several small birds that I photographed last Saturday in the vegetation surrounding a small suburban pond in Northern Virginia.

The first bird appears to be a female Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata). Normally I am not a big fan of a head-on shot of a bird, but in this case I really like the way that the photo shows both of the bird’s yellow patches on its breast (there is also a yellow patch on the warbler’s rump).

The bird in the second photo is a male House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus). I was struck by the intensity of the red on the finch’s upper body, which reminded me of the color of a male cardinal.

In the coming months, warblers will be migrating northward through my area. Each year it is a real challenge for me to get shots of these colorful little birds, because they appear just as the trees begin to cover themselves with leaves—I often can hear warblers behind the leafy foliage without being able to see them.

yellow-rumped warbler

house finch

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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On Saturday I encountered several female House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) with clumps of vegetation in their mouths and suspect that they are beginning to construct nests. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, “House Sparrow prefers to nest in manmade structures such as eaves or walls of buildings, street lights, and nest boxes instead of in natural nest sites such as holes in trees.”

I know that some people resent the invasive presence of House Sparrows, which were introduced in the United States from Europe in 1851, because they sometimes displace native species. Personally I find them to be as interesting to observe and photograph as any other birds.

Perspective makes a difference—as a photographer I focus my attention on different aspects of my subjects than others may do. For, example,  I know that farmers and gardeners will view some vegetation and insects as pests, while I may find them to be beautiful subjects. It is definitely a cliché, but there is also truth in the old saying that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

 

House Sparrow

House Sparrow

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

 

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Does the proverbial early bird always get the worm? I’m not sure if that is necessarily the case. I photographed this American Robin (Turdus migratorius) just before noon on Saturday. Perhaps this robin likes to sleep in late during the weekend. Whatever the case, I was delighted to capture this image of the robin snagging a juicy worm for its meal, which might have been brunch for a late-rising bird.

American Robin

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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When the light is coming from the right direction and a Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is fairly close, you can catch a glimpse of the bird’s stunning turquoise eyes. Yesterday I was fortunate to spot a cormorant perched on a concrete bar that sticks out of a retention pond in a nearby neighborhood. The cormorant was fairly close to the shore, which meant that I was able to capture some detailed images of the striking bird.

The first image is a simply a crop of the second image that really highlights the cormorant’s eyes. The orange skin on its face really makes those eyes “pop.” The cormorant twisted its body from side to side, stretching its long neck, before finally slipping into the water, as you can see in the final photo. This is the view that I am most accustomed to during my wildlife adventures, though normally the cormorant is a lot farther away from me.

These photos are proof that it is not always necessary to travel to a wildlife refuge to see wildlife—this pond is only about a mile (1.6 km) or so from my suburban townhouse.

Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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When a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) looks directly at me, it feels really intense—there is a sense of ferocity and power in its glaring eyes. Normally I do not like eye-t0-eye photos of birds, because that direct angle causes their bills to look really strange. In this photo, though, I really like the way that the eagle’s beak looks and the way that the color of its beak matches the color of its feet.  The sharpness of the beak also mirrors the sharpness of the eagle’s prominent talons.

I try to get as many different kinds of photos of eagle as I can, and this image has a different “feel” than most of my other images. There is a minimalism and starkness that really appeal to me and a very, but effective composition.

I really feel blessed that I get to see bald eagles so often when I visit Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, where I take most of the eagle shots that are featured in my blog postings.

 

Bald Eagle

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Most of the time I am an opportunistic photographer—I wander about and react to the the things that I see. During the nesting season of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), however, I will hangout at spots where I can observe the eagle nests.

The members of an eagle couple take turns sitting on the eggs, and I love to try to capture the changing of the guard, i.e. when one eagle switches off with the other one. Earlier this month, I observed such an exchange at one of the nests that I watch at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

The first photo shows the departing eagle. If you look closely behind the eagle, you will see some small twigs in the air that were dislodge during the takeoff. I had to look through a lot of vegetation to get a clear view of the nest and the dark smudges in the photo are branches that were partially blocking my vision—fortunately those branches were on the periphery of my composition.

The second photo shows the arriving eagle. The nest is so small that I don’t think it could hold both eagles at the same times, particularly when there are fragile eggs present.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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It’s almost time for birds to be migrating northward through our area, some of which will remain with us throughout the warmer months. Many birders look forward to this time when warblers appear each year. For me, though, it is always a challenge, because leaves appear at about the same time, making it tough to spot the new birds.

Earlier this month I was happy to get a few shots of an Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), one of the earliest migrating species. The phoebe was initially foraging on the ground and then flew up into a tree. It is interesting to compare the two photos and see what a difference the background makes in the “feel” of the photos.

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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A Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) turned its head to check me out as I walked by it during a recent visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. However, the vulture did not move from its perch, suggesting to me that there was something dead nearby that had attracted the vulture’s attention.

I couldn’t help but think of a joke about a vulture that a friend told me last year—A vulture boards an airplane carrying two dead raccoons. The flight attendant looks at him and says, “I’m sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.” Sorry—I have a somewhat warped sense of humor and love puns and wordplay.

Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vulture

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) have impressive wing spans, approximately 80.3 inches (204 cm), according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I was thrilled last week to capture some images of an eagle with its wings fully extended as it flew over me at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

The afternoon sunlight was pretty strong, which caused a shadow on the side of the eagle’s face, but I was happy that I was able to keep the visible eye in pretty sharp focus—you may want to click on the images to get a better look at the eagle’s eyes.

bald eagle

bald eagle

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Last Wednesday I watched as this Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) approached its nest to take the place of its mate, who had flown away a moment earlier. It would have been cooler if the eagle had been coming towards me when it landed, but I like the way that I was able to capture the wing, tail, and talon positions in the first two photos. In the final photo, the eagle had successfully landed at the large nest—the eagle’s head was initially in the shadows, so I was happy when it glanced over its shoulder in my direction and the sunlight hit its eye.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

 

 

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Whenever I see a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in the air, I will try to track it through the lens of my camera. This past Wednesday I was tracking an eagle that was a long way from me at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The eagle was flying quite low, so I figured he was fishing.

I snapped the first photo shortly after the eagle dropped down to the water and grabbed what I thought was a fish. As you can see in the photo, the birds in the immediate area were quite agitated with the eagle flying just above them. When I examined the image on my computer, I realized that the eagle’s prey was probably an American Coot (Fulica americana), not a fish.

The eagle flew low over the water, probably to avoiding alerting any other eagles of its catch. As the eagle flew by me, I was able to capture the second and third images that clearly show the wings of the bird in the eagle’s talons.

The eagle landed in a small tree not far from the shore and proceed to feast on its freshly-caught meal. The bird was wedged in a crook in the tree that helped to steady the prey as the eagle dug into it. If you look closely at the eagle’s beak in the fourth photo, you can see bright red blood from the bird.

When the eagle had partially consumed its meal, it flew to another tree. In the final photo you can see the dangling feet of the prey. Unlike ducks that have webbed feet, coots have lobed feet with long toes and you can see some of those toes in the last image. If you would like to get a closer look at a coot’s feet, check out my December 2014 blog post entitled “Coot feet.”

Bald Eagle and Coot

Bald Eagle and Coot

Bald Eagle and Coot

Bald Eagle and Coot

Bald Eagle and Coot

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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I was tracking a Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) foraging high in a tree at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday and instinctively pressed the camera shutter when it took off, allowing me to capture this cool image of the tiny bird. I love the fully outstretched wings, which appear to be translucent, and the long skinny legs that were just being released from the branch when I took the shot.

Carolina Chickadee

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

 

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When Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) are born, they have brown heads, brown eyes, and a black beak. It takes about five years for them to develop the characteristic white head, pale eyes, and yellow beak that we associate with adult bald eagles. Certain changes take place each year and it is possible to estimate the age of immature bald eagle on the basis of its appearance.

I believe that the eagle depicted in the two two photos is about 3 1/2 years old. There is still a good deal of mottling in the feathers on its chest and some brown patches on its mostly white head. If you would like more detailed information about the developmental stages of bald eagles, I highly recommend an article by Avian Report entitled “Juvenile & Immature Bald Eagles.”

I do not see eagles of this age very often at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, where I took these photos last week. Most of the eagles that I see are adults or are a year or two younger than this one. From what I have read, eagles reach mating age at about the same time that they get their white heads and tails, so I doubt that this eagle has already found a mate—in human terms, I guess the eagle might be characterized as a teenager.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

 

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Some birds blend in so well with their surroundings that it is hard to spot them. That is definitely not the case with the male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), whose bright red feathers announce his presence in even the most cluttered environment.

Last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I spotted this cardinal as he flew across the trail on which I was walking. Normally cardinals bury themselves in dense vegetation at ground level and it is tough to get a clear view of them. On this occasion, the cardinal perched on a fallen branch and briefly posed for me.

The first two images show off the cardinal’s beautiful red feathers really well, but the final photo is probably my favorite of the three. I love the way that the cardinal cocked his head to the side as he looked right at me—my dog used to look at me sometimes in the same pose with a similar mixture of puzzlement, curiosity, and amusement.

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

 

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It is hard to tell exactly when eggs are present in the nests of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). However, when I see an eagle hunkered down, it’s a pretty safe assumption that it is helping to incubate the eggs.

Last week, an eagle was sitting in one of the nests that I monitor at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. As I watched, it took off, and I captured some shots of the eagle flying away that I featured in a blog posting  entitled “Eagles in flight.”

A short time later, another eagle flew to the nest and the photos below show the arrival of that eagle and its subsequent actions. The eagle carefully examined the nest, made a few adjustments, and eventually settled in for its shift of sitting on the eggs.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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I was delighted to capture some images of a female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) last Wednesday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Although the cardinal was a bit scruffy in appearance, I found her to be quite attractive—I have always like the muted tones of the female cardinal, which does not stand out as much as her bright red male counterpart.

As you can see from the two photos, the cardinal was perched in a flowering tree, yet another sign that spring has almost arrived in Northern Virginia. I am not very good in identifying trees, but one of my Facebook friends suggested that it is a maple tree.

If you look closely at the final photo, you will see that the female cardinal was consuming some of the tiny seeds and/or flowers of the maple tree. I encourage you to click on that photo to get a closer look at the cardinal’s feeding activity.

UPDATE: One of my readers, Alan of New Hampshire Garden Solutions, noted that the flowers on this tree are male flowers of the American Elm Tree. Thanks for the help in correctly identifying the tree.

 

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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I spotted this Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) couple on Wednesday as they perched closely together in a dead tree at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. At this time of the year most eagle couples are nesting and one eagle is in the nest at all times.  It therefore felt a little strange to see this couple together in the open.

The two eagles were looking at a small pile of sticks in a nearby tree that looked almost like the start of a nest. The tree, though, looked far too small to support the weight of an eagle nest.

There is a bit of mystery and uncertainty about what is going on in this photo, an effect that was heightened by the overcast skie, which gave the image a monochromatic look.

Bald Eagle

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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This tiny Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) seemed pretty excited on Wednesday at the appearance of tender young buds on the trees at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The kinglet has probably had to subsist on a diet of dried-up seeds during the winter, so the buds are undoubtedly a welcome treat.

Golden-crowned Kinglets are energetic and acrobatic and I really enjoyed watching this one feeding, who sometimes seemed to defy gravity. The images reflect only some of the varied poses of the kinglet—in most of my other shots the kinglet had its head down or was looking away.

I particularly like the pose in the final shot in which the kinglet is hanging horizontally and looking right at me. One of my Facebook friends thought that I was lying down and looking upward when I took that shot, but I can assure you that I was standing upright at that moment.

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Yesterday I observed the “changing of the guard” at one of the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nests at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I was watching the nest and could see the white head of the eagle as it sat in the nest, when suddenly the eagle stood up and took off a few moments later. A short time later, the second eagle landed at the nest to take over nesting responsibilities.

I had a tricky time trying to track the departing eagle, because it flew among the trees initially. The three photos below show different wing positions that I was able to capture during the eagle’s flight. In the final photo, the eagle seems to be glancing in my direction. I thought I was pretty well-hidden by the vegetation, but an eagle’s vision is so sharp that it is quite possible that it could see me clearly.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

 

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I love to try to fill the frame with my primary subject by using a telephoto zoom lens or a macro lens. Getting as close to my subject as possible helps me to capture an incredible amount of detail in some of my photos.

Sometimes, though, it is not possible or even desirable to zoom in on a subject, because I might then lose a sense of its context and environment, i.e. “the big picture.”  Last week I caught sight of a pair of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) in the woods while I was wandering the trails at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. They were pretty far away and the light was far from ideal, but I decided to try to take some shots anyways.

The first photo shows a female bluebird. When I started to work on the photo, the first thing I noticed was that the eye was nicely in focus, one of my normal goals when capturing images of living creatures. The second thing that really delighted me was the red buds that were sprinkled about in the background—many of the trees are now starting to sprout buds and blossoms.

The second photo shows the male bluebird. He was in the shadows, so his eye is not very visible. However, the blue color of his plumage was very prominent and stood out against a very neutral background. In this image, I tried to take advantage of the natural framing of the tree trunks and branches to draw attention to the bluebird.

Some of my fellow photographers like to shoot only when conditions are ideal, but I am willing to take a photo of almost anything that captures my attention. The resulting photos may not be amazing, but they can be quite pleasing, as was the case with these two images of distant bluebirds.

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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As I was exploring a small pond last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I spotted a male Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris). Other than a few mallards at the other end of the pond, the Ring-necked Duck was all alone at the pond. I captured this image as the Ring-necked Duck swam up to a weathered mallard decoy and appeared to be trying to interact with it.

After a few moments without response from the mallard, the Ring-necked Duck slowly swam away, looking elsewhere for companionship. Perhaps he will have more luck with the turtles that were sunning themselves on the shore of the pond.

Ring-necked Duck

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

 

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Over the last few weeks I have been seeing a lot of activity around three Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nests at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This past week I finally observed eagles hunkered down in two of the nests, which suggests to me there may finally be eggs in those nests. The third nest is so large and deep that it is impossible to see if there is an eagle (or even two) inside, especially if it is sitting on eggs.

The two nests in the photos below are fairly small, so you can just see the the top of the white head of the eagles. In both cases I was quite far from the nest when I captured my shots, so I really had to look carefully to see if there were any eagles visible in the nests. With a little luck, I’ll see eaglets in those same nests in the upcoming months and maybe I will be fortunate enough to get a few shots of them.

Bald eagle nest

Bald Eagle nest

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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It was only three o’clock in the afternoon, so I was a bit shocked on Thursday when I spotted this North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I have only seen beavers at this wildlife refuge a couple of times in the past and it was always near dawn or dusk.

I managed to snap a few photos before the beaver dove into the shallow water, swam through a culvert under the trail, and disappeared into the deeper waters of the bay.

beaver

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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On Thursday I was thrilled to capture this shot of a Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) as he waded across one of the small streams at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Out of the corner of my eye I had caught a glimpse of the another Wild Turkey that had opted to fly over the stream a moment earlier, so I was prepared when this turkey emerged from the woods and slowly made its way across the stream.

During his crossing, the turkey flapped his wings from time to maintain his balance and to generate a bit of extra momentum, I suspect. In the image below, the turkey had almost reached the far bank of the stream. I like the sense of movement in the shot that is heightened by the open wings, the forward lean of the body, and the “beard” hanging away from the body.

Wild Turkey

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Yesterday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge I had a short portrait session with a handsome male Canvasback duck (Aythya valisineria). When I asked him to smile, he gave me a wide, openmouthed grin, as you can see in the first photo. I like the way that the informal portrait shows his black and white breeding plumage, his chestnut-colored head, and his striking red eyes.

The Canvasback needed a more serious shot for work, so we captured the profile image that you see below. Most of the time I have trouble convincing birds to pose for me, so it was nice to come upon this cooperative Canvasback.

Canvasback

Canvasback

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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One of my favorite trails at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge follows the shoreline. In many parts of the trail, vegetation partially blocks my view of the water, but there are also open areas that let me get clear shots of ducks and other waterfowl. As I was nearing one such open area on Tuesday the water suddenly exploded—I had spooked a flock of American Coots (Fulica americana) that had been feeding close to the shore.

I quickly brought my camera up to my eye and snapped off a few photos. When I reviewed the resulting images on my screen, I really liked the sense of motion that I had managed to capture in the coots and in the water. I decided not to crop the two photos below, so you can get a sense of what I was seeing when I looked through my camera’s viewfinder. Neither image is super sharp, but I think that the slight blurriness enhances the almost abstract “feel” of the photos.

What do you think?

American Coots

American Coots

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

 

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