Category Archives: Landscape

Landscape, Wading Birds

Early Seeding Maple

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A maple tree stands on this small island, actually more of a struggle, as it doesn’t stand straight and there isn’t much more to it than what you see here in this image taken this week. This tree is an early bloomer, and a variety with bright red seed pods.

Ravenswood Pond, Maple Branch
Ravenswood Pond, Maple Branch

Finding a bird in the right light tucked in among these bright maple seeds is a treat. The next two images were taken a few weeks ago on a windy day when most of the wading birds were staying low. The light wasn’t great but I couldn’t resist the red.

Great Blue Heron in Maple Tree
Great Blue Heron in Maple Tree

A small flock of White Ibis has had this island on their daily route for most of the winter. I often see them sticking out of the pine trees on the far end of the island and was happy to spot these two on the trail side.

White Ibis in Maple Tree
White Ibis in Maple Tree – Peek-a-boo
Duck, Landscape

Gadwall

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A few Gadwalls have been hanging out at Ravenswood Pond for the winter. They have been pretty quick to move to the middle or far side of the pond if they sense any human activity. On this day this small group took their time passing by me.

Gadwall
Gadwalls

They will be heading out soon on their spring migration.

Gadwall
Gadwall

This scene is looking the length of this rectangular, man-made pond. The “skinny tree” I sometimes mention is hosting a Great Blue Heron and can be made out on the right.

Pond with Gadwalls
Ravsenswood Pond with Gadwalls

There is duck weed all around the pond and some other bright green pond vegetation has thrived on the right-hand side.

Duck, Landscape, Wading Birds

Follow The Leader

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The sun was going down behind me as I looped back by the pond where I had photographed the Mottled Duck pair and Tricolored Heron.

I took some landscape images and then realized the ducks and heron were still there, in the tall grass.

Pond, Sun's Last Rays
Pond, Sun’s Last Rays

The Tricolored Heron started working his way back out into the open.

Tricolored Heron and Mottled Duck Pair
Tricolored Heron and Mottled Duck Pair

And the ducks followed him.

Tricolored Heron and Mottled Duck Pair
Tricolored Heron and Mottled Duck Pair

The heron continued to wade and the ducks swam behind, all in a row.

Tricolored Heron and Mottled Duck Pair
Tricolored Heron followed by Mottled Duck Pair
Landscape

The Skinny Tree, Down The Pond

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Just as it was starting to rain and we were heading out  a Great Blue Heron landed in the Skinny Tree. It was a long, soft shot, but I do like all the colors around the edge of the pond.

Great Blue Heron in Skinny Tree
Great Blue Heron in Skinny Tree, Few Ducks in the Water

If you zoom in you’ll see that all of last year’s nesting material is gone from the tree. The GBH nest was where the Heron is standing; Great Egrets built three nests lower down, one on top of the Wood Duck box. I expect a Great Blue Heron pair will start building it up soon as this has been one of the prime nesting sites on this pond for many years.