This Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is flying to rendezvous with its mate. They both had taken off simultaneously from the water right below the bridge I had been standing on while waiting for them to take off. Both geese took off in my direction. The distance from their takeoff point to the bridge railing was short. As I was photographing their takeoff, I noticed they were barely going to clear the bridge railing. I ducked below the bridge railing. This goose aborted its flight to avoid flying in to me while its mate cleared the bridge railing and landed in the water on the other side of the bridge. This goose took a five minute break while continually honking back and forth with its mate. Then this goose swam a good distance away form the bridge and took off, this time gaining altitude and taking a flight path close to the woods away from the bridge.
Fog hangs over a salt marsh as this Great Egret (Ardea alba ) executes a graceful landing on a mudflat.
Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) take off from a small pond at dusk with the lead goose flying in front of the formation. The lead goose expends the most energy because it is the first to break up the flow of air that provides additional lift for all of the geese who follow behind the leader. When the lead goose gets tired, it drops out of the front position and moves to the rear of the formation where the resistance is lightest and another goose moves into the leadership position.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
This Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) flew into the salt marsh scattering all of the birds except the Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) either to the far remote corners of the salt marsh or completely out. The Ospreys are not afraid of bald eagles. In this photo, it appears the Bald Eagle is chasing the Osprey but it is the opposite. The Osprey is above the Bald Eagle and is shadowing it to keep it away from the Osprey nests.
Photographed in a salt marsh on Long Island Sound. The Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) is larger than Lesser Yellowlegs and has a longer bill grayish at base.
There were a lot of birds flying at the salt marsh today including this Bald Eagle Juvenile (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
A Green Heron heard me and took a peek.
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
An Osprey coming up out of the water after diving for fish. It did not catch the fish.
A Great Egret dips into the muddy water of a shallow pond for food.
Flock of Canadian Geese take off.
An Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) comes up out of the water after catching a fish. Photographed in the spring of 2017.
Portrait of a Snowy Egret feeding in a salt marsh.
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Two Mute Swans In Flight (Wings Down)
I was standing on top of a tall sand dune overlooking a nature preserve. I saw these two Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) off in the distance heading straight for me and the open ocean. Nothing like being in the right place at the right time.
This is one of two new Canada Geese families I found at the salt marsh today. Parents usually lead their goslings in a line with one adult in front and the other at the rear.
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis).
A Mallard duck stands in the backwater of salt marsh.
Female Red-winged Blackbird just landed on a Common Reed in a salt marsh. The reed is swinging back and forth like a pendulum. The bird appears to spread its wings for balance as the reed stabilizes.
A Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichen) perches on a rock overlooking the ocean.
I spotted these 3 Common Terns standing on a mudflat. They were motionless, in a straight line, equidistant from one another and all looking in the same direction. It was great natural symmetry.
Six Brants fly along the shoreline.
A Sanderling (Calidris alba) feeding on the beach.
A Sanderling (Calidris alba) lost its footing and slid down the rock.
Northern Mockingbird on Branch
Northern Mockinbgbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Northern Mockingbird on Red Berry Bush
Mimus polyglottos
After catching a fish, an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) heads back to its nest.
Five Canada Geese maintain a level flying formation as they land in a salt marsh.
A Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) wades through a salt marsh looking for small fish.
This Osprey had just made a dive into the water for a fish. It is making a low 180 degree turn after coming up out of the water.
Cormorant in flight.
Double-creasted Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
The wingspan of a Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is 52". I shot this photo in September as the Cormorant flew below me skimming the surface of the water.
After Diving for a Fish 2 (Vertical)
An Osprey coming up out of the water after diving for fish. It did not catch the fish.
The Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) and many other birds are back at the salt marsh for another high activity season of building nests, mating, fishing and fighting over food and territory. This Osprey is circling the salt marsh looking for a fish for his mate.
Snowy Egret juveniles are fun to photograph. They are very active and provide great action shots like displaying perfect angel wings.
I was walking through the woods along the perimeter of a salt marsh and happened to look through the trees and spotted this Great Egret (Ardea alba) standing in the water against this colorful background. Luckily, there was enough unobstructed space through the trees for a clear shot. I shot a few frames of the egret struting around and captured this image when it decided to takeoff.
A Snowy Egret (Egretta thule) takes a break after a frenzied search for fish.
The fog was thick and foghorns blared across the water. Why not join in?
Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)
A House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) enduring a blizzard.
Five Canadian Geese drop in for a water landing at a salt marsh on the first day of Spring 2014.
A flock of Brants (Branta bernicla) skim the surface of a sparkling blue ocean.