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Preparing for takeoff

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Nannopterum auritum, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on March 2, 2025| 2 Comments »

This past Monday I spotted some Double-crested Cormorants (Nannopterum auritum) in the waters off of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and once again they took off immediately, even though I was quite a distance away from them. Fortunately I anticipated that this would happen and was able to react quickly enough to capture the action. The second photo below shows the way that cormorants bounce across the water, leaving a trail of small splashes, to gain the speed needed to lift off from the water.

The first photo, my favorite of the two, depicts the cormorant on its last bounce, making final preparations for takeoff with its feet just barely in the water. I really like the position of the extended wings in this image and if you zoom in and look at the face, you will get a look at the brilliant turquoise eyes of the cormorant.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Bufflehead in late February

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Bucephala albeola, bufflehead, bufflehead duck, Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on February 28, 2025| 7 Comments »

I was delighted on Monday to photograph this male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) duck in good light, which allowed me to see the beautiful purple-green iridescence on its head. Male Buffleheads have a large white patch that wraps around the back of their heads that makes them easy to identify from a distance. It is rare, though, for me to be close enough and in the right light to see the beautiful head coloration.

Buffleheads are small, large-headed ducks that migrate to my area of Northern Virginia during the winter and I often see some of them during my visits to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. During the summer, Buffleheads breed near ponds and lakes in boreal forest and aspen parkland of Canada and Alaska, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Eagle on nest

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Bald Eagle, Canon 7D, eagle, eagle nest, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on February 27, 2025| 2 Comments »

Every year in the late winter and early spring I try to keep an eye on the nests of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Several of the locations with nests that were used last year apparently are not being this year, but I have repeatedly observed eagle activity at one very large nest at the refuge.

On Monday, I spotted one eagle perched on the edge of that nest and another eagle in a nearby tree keeping watch over the nest. Does that mean that some eggs have hatched? Who knows? The nest is so deep that it is impossible to see what is going on inside of the nest. I watched the nest for quite a while, hoping I might see a tiny head pop up over the edge of the nest, but a baby eagle never appeared

I will continue to monitor this nest and a couple of other potential nesting sites and, with a little luck, may catch a glimpse of some eaglets in the upcoming weeks.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Late February Brown Creeper

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged brown creeper, Canon 7D, Certhia americana, creeper, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on February 26, 2025| 1 Comment »

On Monday I spotted this tiny Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) as it spiraled its way up several trees alongside a trail at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This little bird was somewhat frenetic in its movements, often disappearing behind the trunk of the tree, but somehow I managed to track it. As you can see from the photo, the creeper blends in well with the tree bark, so movement is key to detecting the bird.

I was happy to capture an image that shows off the creeper’s distinctive bill so well. Brown Creepers use their slender, downcurved bills to probe into crevices and pick at loose bark in search of insects. From what I have observed, creepers almost always move upwards in a tree, while nuthatches seem move only downwards.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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February kinglet

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, Golden-crowned Kinglet, kinglet, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Regulus satrapa, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on February 25, 2025| 1 Comment »

The warmer weather yesterday was a welcome respite from our winter cold—temperatures rose above 50 degrees F (10 degrees C) and it is supposed to be even warmer today. During a lengthy walk at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I was delighted to spot this tiny Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) on a tree with some visible buds.

Such signs are starting to appear—I can’t wait for spring to arrive with new growth, new colors, and new life.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Winter sparrow

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, Melospiza melodia, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, song sparrow, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on February 22, 2025| 1 Comment »

The weather this past week has been cold and windy, so I have not been able to get outdoors very much this past week. According to the weather forecasts, things should warm up next week, so hopefully I will be a bit more active.

When I last visited Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge a week or so ago, I captured this image of what I believe is a Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia). The little bird was perched on the bare stalks of some unidentified vegetation, which permitted me to capture an uncluttered shot—most of the time I see sparrows foraging on in ground in the cluttered underbrush.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Stealthy heron

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Ardea herodias, Canon 7D, Great Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron fishing, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, stealthy heron, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on February 19, 2025| 2 Comments »

This past Friday I photographed this Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge in stealth mode as it attempted to sneak up on some potential prey. At other times, the heron walked through the water with its head held high. It was a fun little photo session for me, though I suspect that the heron wished it were more successful in catching some fish.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Fly Like an Eagle

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Bald Eagle, birds in flight, Canon 7D, eagle, Fly Like An Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Steve Miller Band, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on February 15, 2025| 8 Comments »

I never get tired of photographing Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), like this one that soared by me last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The eagle made minor adjustments to its wings and tail to maintain its speed and direction, but it mostly seemed to be enjoying itself without exerting much effort. I couldn’t help but think of the Steve Miller Band and its well-known song “Fly Like an Eagle” from the 1970’s.

“I want to fly like an eagleTo the seaFly like an eagleLet my spirit carry meI want to fly like an eagle‘Til I’m freeOh, Lord, through the revolution…”

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Dazzling cormorant

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Nannopterum auritum, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on February 13, 2025| 5 Comments »

Last Friday I spotted a Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) in the waters off of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. As I was bringing my camera up to my eye, the cormorant suddenly took off and I captured a couple of shots of the action. I was shooting almost directly into the light, so the bird is almost a silhouette, but I was happy to capture some of the action. As you may be able to see, the cormorant initially runs across the surface of the water to generate some momentum before it takes to the air.

When I went searching for the Latin name, I was a little surprised to see that it had changed. The Double-crested Cormorant used to be considered part of the genus Phalacrocorax, but, according to Wikipedia, a 2014 study supported reclassifying it and several other American cormorant species into the genus Nannopterum. The International Ornithologists’ Union reportedly adopted this change in 2021.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Tiny Tufted Titmouse

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, titmouse, Tufted Titmouse, Woodbridge VA on February 12, 2025| 8 Comments »

I was thrilled to capture this shot of a tiny Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) during a visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge last Friday. Normally I see Tufted Titmice flitting about high in the foliage, but this one came down closer to the ground for a moment. As you can see, I was shooting through branches, but I like the feeling that the photo somehow conveys of entering into the private world of this little bird.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Strolling with a heron

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, Portraits, wildlife, Winter, tagged Ardea herodias, Canon 7D, Great Blue Heron, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, strolling heron, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on February 10, 2025| 12 Comments »

Last Friday I was walking slowly along a trail that runs parallel to the water off of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge when I noticed a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) doing the same thing. Most of the time when I see a heron, it is in the water, though occasionally I have spotted one perched in a tree. It is highly unusual for me to see one on dry land, but this heron seemed to strolling down the path, taking in the sights.

I slowed down a little to maintain my distance from the heron and managed to capture this shot as heron was lifting its long toes to take another step. Eventually the heron became aware of my presence and quickened his walking pace a bit until he reached an opening to the water and flew away. What a fun little encounter with the heron!

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Scaup and shell

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Aythya affinis, Canon 7D, Lesser Scaup, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, scaup, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on February 8, 2025| 2 Comments »

When I first spotted this bird in the water on Tuesday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I thought it might be a Northern Shoveler, because of the enlarged shape of its bill. I zoomed in with my long 150-600mm telephoto lens to try to confirm the identification and decided that it instead looked more like an immature male Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) with some kind of mollusk or snail in its mouth.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology w ebsite, “Lesser Scaup eat primarily aquatic invertebrates such as mollusks, insects, and crustaceans, but they also eat aquatic plants and seeds.” However, I am not very good at distinguishing Greater Scaups from Lesser Scaups and immature birds make identification even harder, so I am not all that confident that I have correctly identified this bird.

As you can tell from the photo, the it was windy and the water was quite rough that day, so the birds on the bay were bobbing up and down. I decided not to crop this image any closer in order to give you a sense of the choppiness of the water.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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New eagle nest?

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Bald Eagle, Canon 7D, eagle nest, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on February 6, 2025| 3 Comments »

As I peered through the thick vegetation on Tuesday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I spotted the bright white head of a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) perched on a distant tree above what may be a new eagle nest. Some of the nesting sites that eagles used in previous years are empty this year and none of the roads at the refuge appeared to be closed. I have been searching diligently for indications of new nests and am hopeful that this one is now being actively used.

I suspect that there is also nesting activity at the large eagle nest shown in the second photo below. The nest is so large and deep, however, that it is impossible to tell for certain if an eagle is currently sitting on eggs inside.

Spring is a time for new life and for new growth and I am hopeful that I will spot some baby eaglets in these two nests in the upcoming months as spring draws near.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Carolina Wren in the brush

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, Carolina Wren, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Thryothorus ludovicianus, Woodbridge VA, wren on February 4, 2025| 5 Comments »

Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) are quite common in Northern Virginia, where I live. Most often, though, I get a only a glimpse of one when I hear it loudly singing. Carolina Wrens often seem to bury themselves in the low vegetation and it is hard to get an unobstructed view of one.

Last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I spotted a Carolina Wren as it was moving about and manage to track it. I attempted to take a lot of shots of the little bird, but most of them were blurry or had the head hidden by branches. There are a lot of branches (and shadows) in this photo too, but I was fortunate enough to be able to focus on the wren’s eye.

I really love the warmth of the colors on the wren’s body and how well it blended into its surrounds. The color palette is minimal, with mostly varying shade of brown, but the little green bits add some visual interest and give rises to hope that the bleak days of winter will eventually be replaced by the new growth of spring.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Another month begins

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, dove, mourning dove, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA, Zenaida macroura on February 1, 2025| 9 Comments »

In the midst of all of the chaotic turmoil swirling in my country, I feel a need to post an image reflective of the inner peace that I am seeking at this time, a peace that seems so elusive during this challenging time. This past Monday I encountered this Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) as I was walking along one of the trails at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

The dove was part of a small flock that I inadvertently flushed as the birds were foraging on the ground. Most of the doves flew away, but this one perched in a nearby tree and I was able to capture this peaceful portrait.

Here in the Washington D.C. area we are all in mourning for those who died when a helicopter collided with an airplane over the Potomac River. I hope and pray that we all can use this time for support and sympathy for those who lost loved ones in the accident and not for launching accusations or blame on either end of the political spectrum. “To everything there is a season…A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1,4)

Best wishes to all for a blessed month of February.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Long-necked heron

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Ardea herodias, Canon 7D, Great Blue Heron, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, reflection, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on January 31, 2025| 8 Comments »

This Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) had its neck extended so much on Monday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge that it reminded me of a giraffe. The mind can sometimes make weird associations.

We have finally made it to the end of January. What a crazy month it has been in so many different ways.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Winter Wren

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Troglodytes hiemalis, Winter Wren, Woodbridge VA, wren on January 30, 2025| 5 Comments »

Throughout this winter, I have been trying to capture an image of Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis), a tiny bird that spends the cold season in my area. As described by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, “Winter Wrens hop and scamper through the understory moving more like a mouse than a bird as they investigate upturned roots and decaying logs for food. These energetic birds often bob their entire bodies as if doing squats while they nervously look around in the forest understory.”

I have occasionally caught glimpses of Winter Wrens, but they have invariably moved away before I could get a shot. These wrens are really elusive as they scurry about among the tangled branches and leaves and my camera has struggled to focus on them, choosing instead to focus on the surrounding vegetation.

On Monday, I finally managed to get a shot of a Winter Wren, after tracking it through the brush for almost 15 minutes. It is definitely not a prize-winner, but I am pretty confident that I achieved my goal. Parts of the bird are hidden by branches, but I think helps viewers to better understand the environment in which this little birds are found.

Now I have a new challenge—to get a better shot of a Winter Wren. That’s part of the cycle of being a wildlife photographer, celebrating small achievements, but always believing that I can do better. That’s why I return again and again to the same places, always watching, always waiting, wildly optimistic that new opportunities will present themselves.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Foraging raccoon at a frozen pond

Posted in animals, Nature, Photography, Portraits, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, frozen foraging, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Procyon lotor, raccoon, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on January 29, 2025| 15 Comments »

I photographed this raccoon on Monday (27 January) as it foraged in an open water area of a small pond at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Although the weather was considerably warmer, i.e. above the freezing level, the water in the small interior ponds and in the shore areas was still almost completely frozen over.

I couldn’t tell for sure if the raccoon had any success in finding something to eat, because I was quite a good distance away from it. It was fascinating nonetheless to watch the raccoon at work, repeatedly dipping a paw into the frigid water.

The second image below provides a much clearer view of the raccoon’s face, but there is something about the body and head position in the first photo that appeals to be a slight bit more. What do you think? Do you have a preference for the first photo or the second one?

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Song Sparrow in the winter

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, Melospiza melodia, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, snow, song sparrow, sparrow in the snow, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on January 23, 2025| 2 Comments »

Many of the trails were still covered in snow (but passable) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge when I visited the refuge after a recent snow storm over a week ago. Much of that snow is still on the ground and the temperatures continue to be well below the freezing level. Fortunately the weather forecasts predict warmer temperatures next week so eventually the snow will begin to melt away..

On the day of my visit small groups of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) were feverishly foraging for tasty tidbits in the bare patches in the trail paralleling the water. In most of my shots the sparrow’s head was buried in the vegetation. Occasionally, though a sparrow would momentarily lifted its head to check me out, as I captured in the final image.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Winter Landscape

Posted in Landscape, Photography, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, iPhone, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, winter, winter landscape, Woodbridge VA on January 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »

When I visited Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge last week, the sky was mostly blue, with patches of clouds to add additional visual interest to the landscape photos that I captured. The first photo shows one of the ponds at the refuge that is fed by the tides of the Potomac River.

In other parts of the refuge, though, the ice covering the waters of the bay on the shore served as a stark reminder that winter is far from over. Today, for example, the temperature is currently 18 degrees (minus 8 degrees C) and it may be even colder tomorrow. Yikes!

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Cooper’s Hawk in winter

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Accipiter cooperii, Canon 7D, Cooper's Hawk, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on January 20, 2025| 2 Comments »

I spotted this cool-looking Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) last Monday in a sycamore tree at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Cooper’s Hawks usually have an upright posture and long tails, which help me to distinguish them from the Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks that I see more frequently.

However, Cooper’s Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks are quite similar in appearance, so it is always a bit of a gamble for me to try to make a call. In this case, some more experienced birders in a Facebook forum confirmed my tentative identification.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Kinglet in winter

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, Golden-crowned Kinglet, kinglet, kinglet in winter, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Regulus satrapa, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on January 18, 2025| 4 Comments »

Golden-crowned Kinglets (Regulus satrapa) are among the smallest birds in our area of Northern Virginia at about 4 inches (10 cm) in length. These tiny songbirds are also extremely fast and frenetic and they move about high in the trees.

I spotted a Golden-crowned Kinglet this past Monday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge on a rare January day with blue skies. When I am tracking kinglets, I usually shoot in short bursts, hoping to capture a moment when the birds are stationary. I often ended up with blurry shots of the back of the head of this kinglet and sometimes the bird moved so quickly that it was already outside of the frame by the time I clicked the shutter.

The favorite two images, as you can see below, show the little bird in motion. In the first photo, the kinglet seemed to hover momentarily as it flitted about among the branches. In the second image, which I cropped significantly, I captured the moment when the kinglet pushed off from one branch and flew downwards towards another prospective perch. I just barely managed to keep the kinglet in the frame—in the original image the kinglet is in the lower third of the image, with its extended wing almost touching the bottom edge.

Patience and persistence helped me get this image, along with fast reflexes from lots of practice. To be honest, though, I must admit that luck played a significant role my success.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Hermit Thrush in winter

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, Catharus guttatus, Hermit Thrush, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on January 16, 2025| 5 Comments »

This handsome Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) posed momentarily for me during my visit earlier this week to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It was unusual for me to be able to get such an unobstructed shot of a bird. Although the leaves are gone from the trees, most of the birds at this time of the year seem to forage within the vegetation where my view is often partially blocked by branches.

I am reasonably sure that this is a Hermit Thrush, though I do not see this species very often, so it is possible that I am mistaken in my identification. Let me know if you think that I have misidentified this bird.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Sparrows in the snow

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, sparrow, sparrows in the snow, Tamron 150-600mm, white-throated sparrow, Woodbridge VA, Zonotrichia albicollis on January 15, 2025| 6 Comments »

Many of the trails were still covered in snow (but passable) on Monday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, so I finally went trekking with my camera. Sparrows were feverishly foraging for tasty tidbits in the bare patches in the trail paralleling the water, including these White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis), one of my favorite winter birds.

These little birds were in constant motion, but it was a lot easier to track them when they were on the ground than in the trees (and I had a long telephoto lens). It was, however, a challenge to capture a moment when the sparrow’s head was not buried in the debris or pointed away from me.

These images may not be as impressive as ones of larger birds, like bald eagles, but I am nonetheless pretty happy to have captured these moment with the sparrows in the snow.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Winter hawk

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Buteo lineatus, Canon 7D, immature Red-shouldered Hawk, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on January 13, 2025| 2 Comments »

I have mostly stayed indoors this past week because of frigid temperatures, strong winds, and a snowstorm that dumped about 9 inches (23 cm) of snow on us. This is the most snow that we have seen in years and only yesterday has the weather gotten warm enough to melt any of the snow. Today is supposed to be a bit warmer, possibly reaching 40 degrees (5 degrees C) and then the temperatures are forecast to drop again.

Here are a couple of shot of what I think is an immature Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) that I spotted almost two weeks ago at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I often have trouble identifying hawk species, so I may not be right in this instance. Please let me know if you have a different idea about the identification.

The hawk was perched in a tree and the vegetation on the ground allowed me to get relatively close to the hawk, though the same vegetation partially blocked my view and limited my shooting angles.

I hope to get out with my camera later today after things have warmed up a bit. When I first looked out my window this morning, there was a lot of frost on my windshield and the last time I checked the frost was gone. It will be nice to stretch my legs a bit. I have been doing plenty of shoveling (with frequent breaks), but my phone indicates that my daily step count has dropped precipitously.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Acrobatic woodpecker

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged acrobatic, Canon 7D, Melanerpes carolinus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA, woodpecker on January 7, 2025| 11 Comments »

This acrobatic Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) was twisting and contorting its body as it foraged last week in the trees at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge when I spotted it. In the first photo I managed to get a look at the bird’s red belly, a feature that is often hidden from view. The woodpecker seemed to be enjoying some success, though not surprisingly the pickings were fairly meager at this time of the year.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Fish for breakfast

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Ardea herodias, Canon 7D, Great Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron fishing, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on January 4, 2025| 6 Comments »

This Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) was having pretty good success in catching some small fish one morning last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I personally do not like to have fish for breakfast, but am aware that some people like lox, mackerels, or other kinds of fish with their morning meals. As the old Latin saying goes, “De gustibus non est disputandum” (“There is no accounting for taste.”)

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Ending the year with a warbler

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Setophaga coronata, Tamron 150-600mm, warbler, Woodbridge VA, Yellow-rumped Warbler on January 2, 2025| 7 Comments »

I had been lethargic and uninspired throughout December, but decided on Monday to visit Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge to try to find some birds before the end of the year. As I walked along one of the trails, I spotted a small bird in the trees and tracked it as it moved about. I was not sure what it was, became a little excited when I thought I spotted a bit of yellow.

There are not many colorful birds in our area during the winter months, so I patiently kept tracking this bird. When I captured the first image below, I convinced myself that I would see traces of yellow in the breast of the bird. Eventually the bird turned and faced the opposite direction and I got a good look at the bright yellow patch on its rump—it was a Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata), one of very few warbler species that I might see during the winter months.

It was a nice treat for me at the end of the year. Happy New Years to you all and best wishes for a healthy and happy 2025.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Keeping watch

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Bald Eagle, Canon 7D, eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, vigilant eagle, Woodbridge VA on December 27, 2024| 5 Comments »

As I was exploring Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge last week, I spotted a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) perched high in a sweetgum tree. The eagle seemed to be surveying the entire area, like a king keeping watch over his kingdom. I am pretty sure that he spotted me, but may have judged correctly that I was not a threat, and therefore the eagle remained in place as I passed on by.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Snuggling turtles

Posted in Nature, Photography, Reptiles, turtle, wildlife, Winter, tagged Canon 7D, Chrysemys picta, Eastern Painted Turtle, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, painted turtle, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on December 26, 2024| 6 Comments »

Do turtles show affection? If so, how do they overcome the obstacle posed by their hard shells?

Last week on an unusually warm December day, I spotted two Eastern Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) sitting on a log in a small swampy pond at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. They were sitting pretty close to each other, which was not unusual given the small size of the log. What really struck me, though, was the way that they appeared to be rubbing the sides of their faces against each other.

Was this a sign of affection? It certainly seemed that way to me.

I’ve met people who appear to have as tough an exterior as these turtles. How do you reach people like that? Persistent small act of unrequited kindness may help to penetrate those barriers. For me, that is what Christmas is all about, an attitude towards others that lasts a whole lot long that a single-day celebration.

A belated Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrated yesterday and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2025 to you all.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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Eagle couple

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter, tagged Bald Eagle, Bald Eagle couple, Canon 7D, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA on December 24, 2024| 5 Comments »

Last week I spotted a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) couple perched near each other in a tree at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Although it is not quite nesting season here in Northern Virginia, the eagles were within eye sight of the large nest that you can see in the second photo below. It is hard to get a sense of the massive size of the nest from the photo, but it is so large that the eagles disappear from sight when they are sitting on eggs in that nest.

I suspect that the eagles will soon occupy that nest and, with a little luck, I hope to see some baby eagles in the next few months.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.

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