I had a speaking engagement in Bird in Hand this AM so I could not resist visiting the Zeltenrich nest. This time we saw an eagle. It was roosting in a tall tree near the nest it flew once and returned to a roost near the original. I can not say for certain but I think the nest is getting bigger. We saw several of the common species known as "bird watchers" in the area.
We traveled over to Mascot to see if the mergansers were still in the mill pond. no they were not but an interesting pair of ducks flew low over the water and landed near the dam. They had black bodies and white upper neck and head (black and white neck) Their backs had an iridescent green shine in the sun. One had just a few white primaries the other all black wings. Their heads were shaped with a top hump not unlike some domestic geese. I suppose they are a hybrid and domestic, but they were quite pretty especially flying together low over the water for about one hundred yards.
No pictures this time can you believe that I didn't take a camera?
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Looking for Eagles
above: eagle's nest near Intercourse
above: merganzer with fishWe heard of a "new" pair of eagles building a nest between New Holland and Intercourse and had to check it out. We found the nest very easily but no eagles present during our brief visit. The best place for viewing is from the Zeltenrich Reformed Church parking lot at Hollander Rd and Peter's Road. The nest is across Peter's road from the church (directly south) in the first group of high trees. The farm has been posted so people to stay out by the PA game commission - rightfully so, It seems that viewing from the parking lot is far enough away as to not disturb them. Let's pray for a successful and productive nest. To see our eagles spreading out like this is beautiful but I would have never thought that that small stream would support a nest. When trout season comes that area is normally full of fishermen I hope that does not disrupt the nesting. The eagles should enjoy it when they stock the trout in that stream.
We were lucky enough to find a small flock of common mergansers in the pool made by the dam at Mascot mill. We sat for awhile till one swan close enough to get a good picture. Watching diving ducks never fails to entertain me. If Florence wasn't with me I would still be there watching.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
RETURN TO MIDDLE CREEK
Another beautiful January day - 40 degrees and bright blue skies - I picked up Dick Warren and went to Middle Creek. After seeing the snow geese at Prime Hook last week Middle Creek looked empty - at least several thousand snows, several hundred tundras, the resident Canadas, shovelers, blacks, mallards, and a few common mergansers but none close enough to get a good picture. We did see a mature bald eagle worrying the snow geese. The geese were up and down at least 5 times but the eagle did not get his meal while I was there.
The visitors center reopens tomorrow so we have to return next week. I may leave Dick at home after all it is embarrassing to be out walked by a 94 year old.
We left by way of Seglock road and as always it is the most uplifting experience - I do not know if I blogged this before (so forgive me if it is a repeat) but to me Seglock road is a sacred place. Like a great cathedral. I sense the presence of God there. The sun shining through the trees and reflecting off the stream is more beautiful than stained glass, the soft sound of running water and birds in the wood is as good as any anthem by any choir. I am pleased that I am employed there, you see I am God's janitor - my job today was easy just one beer bottle to pick up. Most of the party folks must think it is too cold to be out in the woods and they can stay out - desecrating this magnificent cathedral with trash --- but if is was not for them I would not have the honor and privilege of being God's janitor. Sometimes they make the job hard but my employer always makes it worth my effort.
The visitors center reopens tomorrow so we have to return next week. I may leave Dick at home after all it is embarrassing to be out walked by a 94 year old.
We left by way of Seglock road and as always it is the most uplifting experience - I do not know if I blogged this before (so forgive me if it is a repeat) but to me Seglock road is a sacred place. Like a great cathedral. I sense the presence of God there. The sun shining through the trees and reflecting off the stream is more beautiful than stained glass, the soft sound of running water and birds in the wood is as good as any anthem by any choir. I am pleased that I am employed there, you see I am God's janitor - my job today was easy just one beer bottle to pick up. Most of the party folks must think it is too cold to be out in the woods and they can stay out - desecrating this magnificent cathedral with trash --- but if is was not for them I would not have the honor and privilege of being God's janitor. Sometimes they make the job hard but my employer always makes it worth my effort.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
A GREAT DAY IN DELAWARE
The Weather was perfect, clear blue skies, 40 + degrees in southern DE. What a day to visit Bombay Hook and Prime Hook. Dan Meyers drove and we both took hundreds of pics. We went to see snow geese and found only one with an injured wing at Bombay. We did see several great blues, canadas, shovelers, a number of buffleheads, several northern harriers, black ducks, and tundra swans. We also saw a very large flock of canadas flying in the distance between the tour road and the bay. A special treat was my first golden eye (great pic). Dan was disappointed as he came to see snow geese.
On the way to South we saw a flock of snows to our East but no where to get close to them - there were perhaps several thousand there. At Prime Hook we saw dozens of shovelers, more great blues, a belted kingfisher, tons of gulls, many mallards, black ducks, canadas and a few unidentified sandpiper like birds (to far away to identify). We got a close view of a large red tail hawk in the woods near Thirteen Curves Road. They we saw them, thousands of snow geese - we found our way to a road close to the flock and were amazed. I have never seen this many at one time even at the peak at Middle Creek. My estimate was 100,000 but I am no expert. We watched them for an hour or so, witnessing many mass lift offs and landings including one where about 1/2 of the flock moved - It was great to be there with Dan, an air traffic controller, not one bump or crash with thousands moving at the same time, try that FAA - We both got good pics. I also got good shots of a couple of blue snow geese. Then it was on to Lewis as Dan had never seen the lighthouses there. We walked to the end of the fishing pier and back. What a great day of naturing - I fell asleep on the way home and am very thankful that Dan stayed awake. He most likely enjoyed me sleeping and not talking.
On the way to South we saw a flock of snows to our East but no where to get close to them - there were perhaps several thousand there. At Prime Hook we saw dozens of shovelers, more great blues, a belted kingfisher, tons of gulls, many mallards, black ducks, canadas and a few unidentified sandpiper like birds (to far away to identify). We got a close view of a large red tail hawk in the woods near Thirteen Curves Road. They we saw them, thousands of snow geese - we found our way to a road close to the flock and were amazed. I have never seen this many at one time even at the peak at Middle Creek. My estimate was 100,000 but I am no expert. We watched them for an hour or so, witnessing many mass lift offs and landings including one where about 1/2 of the flock moved - It was great to be there with Dan, an air traffic controller, not one bump or crash with thousands moving at the same time, try that FAA - We both got good pics. I also got good shots of a couple of blue snow geese. Then it was on to Lewis as Dan had never seen the lighthouses there. We walked to the end of the fishing pier and back. What a great day of naturing - I fell asleep on the way home and am very thankful that Dan stayed awake. He most likely enjoyed me sleeping and not talking.
Monday, January 21, 2008
MIRACULOUS WINTER VISIT FROM A MONARCH
Wednesday January 9th seemed like any other day at the PA Farm Show - I was sitting at my photography booth in the main hall and thinking about Creation Appreciation (as I always do) when a Monarch butterfly landed on the table not 10 inches from my hand. I was overwhelmed - of course the story of the monarch has been a major part of the beginning of the ministry and a part of the presentation I am taking to people all over. How did a monarch get inside the farm show in January and why did it land on my table and not the thousands of others in the hall? I asked all of the "nature exhibitors" and no one had brought butterflies, eventually I found out that it came from an FFA display several hundred yards from my display. I returned him to his relatives in their display and thanked God for His special visit to me. A monarch in January!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
WHERE HAVE I BEEN?
It has been way to long since I blogged - lots of excuses but then they sound like excuses.
Wednesday January 16 - I spent several hours at Middle Creek - very little ice and the snow geese are growing in number (maybe 6 to 10 thousand by my uneducated estimate) Canadas are abundant and swans increasing in number also. Ducks include the usual mallards, blacks, shovelers. a pair of hooded mergansers and a first for me - a green winged teal - I got good photos - on the way home i saw what I believe to be a immature red tail hawk and got good pics - he had his feathers spread to ward off the cold so it looked like he was wearing a feather cape.
Wednesday January 16 - I spent several hours at Middle Creek - very little ice and the snow geese are growing in number (maybe 6 to 10 thousand by my uneducated estimate) Canadas are abundant and swans increasing in number also. Ducks include the usual mallards, blacks, shovelers. a pair of hooded mergansers and a first for me - a green winged teal - I got good photos - on the way home i saw what I believe to be a immature red tail hawk and got good pics - he had his feathers spread to ward off the cold so it looked like he was wearing a feather cape.
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