Birdsnsky

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge Wood Marsh Trail February 7 2009

The Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Mason Neck peninsula between Gunston Hall and the Mason Neck State Park. The Wood Marsh is one of two major trails leading to the marshy area and home of the bald eagles. The other trail is the Great Marsh Trail.

My friend Ken and I walked about 3/4 of a mile from the parking lot to the end of the Wood Marsh Trail. We were pleasantly surprised to find a very new covered shelter at the end, replete with benches and a rail to set cameras and binoculars on.

This trip was an experiment for me. Except for the first and last picture, I took all pictures using my Canon XSi's manually focused Live View mode, coupled to a Canon 300mm L IS lens, magnified by a Kenko 2x teleconverter, most taken on a tripod. Even the "action" shots were taken in manual Live View mode.

An interesting evergreen emerging from the leaves.

This was one of a pair of Eastern Bluebirds staying close to the shelter. This is the state an adult is in before they change to the classic blud color.

In a tree at the far edge of the marsh perched three bald eagles: two immature and one adult. Several immature eagles flew around the marsh and overhead while we were there.

After we had been at the shelter for a while, white swams began arriving--noisily!

Two more caught in flight.

Also present in the marsh were a large number of American Black Ducks. They are in the foreground here.

After the bald eagles flew away, a great blue heron began to stalk for fish.

Later we walked to Raccoon Creek beyond the Wood Marsh and found a great blue heron up in a tree!

Interior view of the shelter looking out into the marsh; Ken and I have our cameras set up.

February 2009 Backyard Birds

I have managed to take some pictures of birds in my backyard--and the house next door. The Spring Migration has already begun. I have seen robins passing through, along with red winged and tri-colored black birds. For the years 2006 and prior, I saw cedar wax wings for about day and a half in late December. In 2007 and 2008, I didn't see them. And then just last week, I DID see cedar wax wings eating tree buds, in the same adjacent yard as the robins were visiting. Perhaps they have changed their migration timing? The pictures were taken with a Canon G7, not the best camera for long shots--only has 6x optical zoom. However, it is better than nothing and does have a good digital zoom. This is a Carolina Wren, just outside my kitchen window. It often visits my kitchen window sunflower seed feeder.

This pileated woodpecker usually visits my tree and suet feeder once a winter. It worked its way down the tree and then look in the tree roots and bark for food.

One morning, when it was very cold, this red-shouldered hawk [first time visitor ever] perched in my tree just above big forsythia thicket. After about five minutes just sitting and observing, it dropped dramatically to the thicket, but was unable to snatch a bird, so it flew off.

A few of the approximately 18 cedar waxwings next door--with robins on the ground (no picture)

This is one of about 10 red and tricolored winged blackbirds on my rail having some seed. All of the others flew off when I got my camera to the back door window. The black birds have been in the neighborhood for about 5 days.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Dec 30, 2008 Catching a sunset on Skyline Drive--Naked Creek Overlook

My wife and I had so much fun the previous day (the 29th) that we returned to Skyline Drive on the 30th to watch the sunset (Skyline Drive rangers permitting) and hopefully catch the lineup of Venus, the Moon, Jupiter, and Mercury.

A year ago, we had attempted catching a sunset on the north end of Skyline Drive. However, we had done no planning: our overlook of choice had a nice view of the Massanutten but with a mountain blocking the view to the southwest--the direction of the sunset. So, we did some planning.

First, I fired up my Starry Night software and determined that the sun would be setting along with the planets and moon setting later from the south west. Then we got out a 3-D rendering of Skyline Drive--along with the printed map--and looked for locations and overlooks that appeared to be facing the south west. And, we determined to arrive at our viewing destination at least an hour prior to sunset.

We chose to go south from Panorama (Thornton Gap). Jewell Hollow Overlook was a possibility, but we chose to go further south. Stony Man Overlook was our primary choice. Alas, when we got there, it was completely closed for re-construction. Spitler Knoll was blocked by a mountain, so we kept going south, past Skyland and Big Meadows. Finally, at MP 53, we came upon Naked Creek Overlook, with an unobstructed view to the southwest--pay dirt!

We parked our RV and set up our chairs and tripods. A turkey down at the edge of the field greeted us with his calls. Several people drove through this overlook and asked what was going on--at least one person decided to stay and watch the sunset.

The sky was unusually clear--a cold front had come through on the previous day. As a consequence, we could see 50 miles to the horizon, with a view of the Cowpasture and Bullpasture mountains outside of Monterey, Va., along US Rt#250 west of Staunton.

Skyline Drive closes at 5pm from late November through the 3rd of January each year, to protect the visitors from deer hunters. Local sunset was 5:02pm, so we pushed our time at the overlook. At 5:45pm a ranger drove by, said beautiful sight, and then stated that we needed to pack up and head down the Drive--the Thornton Gap entrance was closed, so we would have to head down to Rt#33 Swift Run Gap to leave the park. However, we did get to see the three planets and Moon.

While driving south, we encountered over a dozen deer, who were surprised to see us. We had also seen a hawk fly in front of our rig during day light hours.

Setting up--it was sunny, in the 20's, with a moderate breeze.

"Classic" view of the Blue Ridge Mountain--ridge after ridge after ridge...

The show has begun

The sun is low, with the Massanutten Mountain in the foreground. The Shenandoah Mountains are on the horizon, on the other side of the Valley.

Still lower

Lower, with yellow light emanating from behind the far mountains

Cowpasture and Bullpasture Mountains, near Monterey, Va.

Venus and the Moon

Jupiter with Mercury below and to the left

Grand finale! Venus, the Moon, Jupiter, and Mercury, from top to bottom

Dec 29, 2008: Meems Bottom Bridge, Va. and Night Sky on Skyline Drive

My wife and I decided to visit the Shenandoah Valley on our break between Christmas and New Years. A favorite place of ours is the only covered bridge in the northern part of the state--all others are either west of Blacksburg, Va., or down in Floyd County, east of Christiansburg, Va.

Meems Bottom Bridge is located about a tenth of a mile off of Rt#11, located between Mt. Jackson and New Market. The bridge crosses the north fork of the Shenandoah River.

After our picture taking at the bridge, we visited a restaurant I have been visiting for over 30 years, the Southern Kitchen in New Market--famous for its peanut soup. Then, in a change to dead-heading back up I-81 to I-66 east, we decided to take Rt#211 east over the Massanutten Mountain, through Luray, up over Skyline Drive at Panorama [Thornton Gap], and then into Sperryville to Warrenton to home.

We stopped at the crest on Skyline Drive and took two pictures of the skyline--revealing Venus, the moon, and Jupiter to the west [Mercury had just set] and Orion's Belt to the east. An incredible view of the Milky Way overhead was seen--something I had not seen in 30 years.

Meems Bottom Bridge

Inside View of the Bridge

Lane looking east from the bridge opening

A fun time available near by

New Market Gap in the Massanutten Mountain

View of the Shenandoah River, just up-river from Bridge

Southern Kitchen, about four blocks south of intersection of Rt#211 and Rt#11

Looking west from Panorama on Skyline Drive (Thornton Gap). Venus, the Moon, and Jupiter visible--Mercury has just set below Jupiter

The Orion Constellation, looking to the East

Friday, April 4, 2008

Cherry Blossoms and Tidal Basin, Washington, DC, March 28, 2008

I was able to drive down to the Tidal Basin on Friday, the 28th of March. I arrived around 8:15am and parked at Memorial Lot B, visible from the I-395 northbound HOV lanes, down and to the right.

This was the view of the sky en-route to the Tidal Basin. For this trip, it was cloudy most of the time as well as windy. Occasionally, the sun came out and illuminated the blooming cherry blossoms.

This is map of the whole Tidal Basin. I decided to take a different approach to walking and taking pictures: walk the whole Tidal Basin in a counter-clockwise fashion. I also took in a lot of the unusual objects along the way.