Raptors December 29 2012

Joan and I spent a wonderful weekend with friends Gary and Kim Amatrudo along the Delaware River. The eagle pair at Zane Grey were cooperative for photographing and the snow on Saturday 12/29 made for nice scenery viewing.  The storm also caused many of teh local eagles to congregate along the Rio Reservoir in feed stream.  We saw 14 eagles there on Saturday. I photographed 4 eagles in one tree and then a little later they decided to fly and it turned out there were six in the tree. 

On our way back to Zane Grey from Rio Joan spotted a Barred Owl perched in a tree close to the road.  It made for a nice image with the falling snow. 

Until Next time

Jim Borden

Eastern Screech Owl

Joan and I traveled to an area near Syracuse New York to see a Saw Whet Owl.  Sadly, the owl did not cooperate.  On the way home we stopped at a spot where Screech owls have been seen. We saw one and we heard at least three others. 

Click here for more camera-critters

Until next time

Jim

Raptor Time

Winter is Raptor time for Joan and I.  We enjoy viewing the raptors that have migrated south for the winter months.  We took a short trip to two of our favorite places yesterday to see how things were shaping up for this winter.  At Liberty Loop Trail at the north end of the Wallkill Wildlife preserve, we saw migrating Mallards, migrating Northern Shovelers, a Kestrel,  two Northern Harriers and a Red Tail Hawk.  

Kestrel

Red Tail Hawk in Flight

Smooth and Graceful Landing for young Red Tail Hawk

Red Tail Hawk on Mouse Patrol

After spending some time at the Marsh, we stopped by one of our favorite winter haunts for Bald Eagles.  We only saw the resident pair there, but they gave us quite a show.  I had left my 600mm lens on so I missed part of the best action right close to me.

V85-the male Bald Eagle of teh Lackawaxen Pair

Surveying the situation as the moon rose and the sunset

Until next time

Jim Borden

for more Camera Critters click here.

Pennsylvania Elk-Waning days of the Rut

Pennsylvania Bull Elk trying to get the attention of a young cow

We spent three days in Pa Elk country this past week with friends Gary and Kim Amatrudo from Connecticut.  As usual we were able to view 100+ elk.  We saw a number of decent sized bulls but no "monster bulls".  The rut was still active with bugling, sniffing and some breeding going on.  The weather was unusually warm for late October and the elk were visibly in stress from the heat.  Most of the foliage had long gone past peak color, but the Tamarack trees were in their yellow/orange splendor. 

We spent a considerable amount of time watching nad following the bull pictured here.  

Mornings in the Benezett PA area in the fall are normally very foggy which creates a beauty of its own.  The early morning with fog is a great sight to see.  This a the view of the valley between the Winslow Hill viewing area and the mine reclaim area. There were 4 to 5 bulls bugling as we stood and watched this beautiful scene. 

There were a number of snow buntings in the area-seemed unusual for this time of year-they are a very pretty bird

We also saw a number of Wild Turkeys and one group was a bunch of about 12 very mature gobblers feeding together.

Until next Time

Jim Borden

Tunkhannock PA

13 image panoramic stitch. Lane Hill from Tunkhannock River Bridge

The foliage peaked the week of October 1 at our place 10 miles north of Tunkhannock. So, we missed it.  However, Tunkhannock peaked this weekend.  The view from the Susquehanna bridge last night was beautiful.  Not as colorful as what we saw in Maine as these mountains are mostly oak.  The above image master file is 20 inches by 55 inches at 300 dpi. It can be printed crisply up to 40 x110 inches.

Fall is a great time to catch the Suisquehanna River with few or no ripples. 

I used a 300 mm telephoto lens to isolate the Wyoming County courthouse from the busy surroundings.  

Until next Time

Jim Borden

Maine Fall Foliage

West Branch Penobscot River from Abol Bridge

Winding Road in Maine North Woods

Doubletop in Baxter Park from Marsten Parking Area

Sandy Stream Pond from Big Rock

Newsoundehunk Stream from Marsten in Baxter Park

Newsoudehunk Fields in Baxter Park

Pretty Maple leaves near Millinockett ME

Sunset as Seen from Abol Bridge West of Millinockett ME

King of the Road in Maine North Woods

Until next time

Jim Borden

Lubec Maine Eagle

On the way home from our recent Moose looking excursion in Maine we decided to hit the coast of Maine for foliage and lighthouse pictures.  We stopped in the little fishing town of Lubec, Maine (most northeastern town in the USA) for lunch.  The little restaurant was directly along the Lubec harbor.  As we were enjoying their delicious clam chowder and fish sandwich, we saw harbor seals, gulls and cormorants fishing in the harbor.  The waitress explained the mackerel run was in process.  Suddenly a Bald Eagle appeared to join in the fishing activity.  We finished lunch and grabbed our cameras and moved to the edge of the wharf.   Needless to say, our trip home was delayed :)

Most of these images are un-cropped.  The Eagle passed so close many times that I was not able to get more than the head and part of the body in the frame. 

The eagle perched on roof tops along the edge of the harbor as well as on channel markers.  The following image is a landing shot as he approached a channel marker.

The Eagle is powerful and yet graceful.

After watching gulls and cormorants fishing-he waited until the gulls were fighting over a fish and then he took off and snatched it from them.

On his way to a fish catch

the eagles are amazing to watch as they land with fish grasped in both feet

All the while the fishing was occurring-the lobster boats were coming to harbor

Until next time

Jim Borden