meet dad

It's time to meet dad. I love this guy.

 He is devoted to his mate, and he is a wonderful nest builder and fisherman.

He is a bit smaller than the female and he has a clean white feathery chest.

And this is April, the female osprey, lover and mother about to be. 

I finally named her with the help of a friend.

She sits on the nest and puts up with our comings and goings.

When we first got home she was not happy with us. 

Now she seems to say a word or two when we are outside but settles deeper on her eggs instead of heading for the skies.

Brave mama.

So here they are together. This is a good photo that shows us the difference between the male and female ospreys. April on the left has beautiful dark markings on her chest and she is bigger than dad. 

Now comes the hard part for me... naming dad.

Meet mom

We are back in Oyster Bay. 

It's raining and cold. In fact it rained all night long and most of the day. 

I worried in the night about our Ospreys, then I remembered they love the water

 and I stopped fretting about it. (Also the platform has proper drainage now)

They are amazing wonderful birds.

So I'd like to introduce mom.

Who has just landed after changing shifts with dad.

They have eggs and are still laying.

Sometimes she checks me out as she gets familiar with us humans. Now my plan is to name her but I'll wait till I get to know her better. After all we have been home only 24 hours!

Great Blue Heron

I think the great blue herons rule the pond.

They can be right in front of you and never move a muscle, or a feather, or whatever.

Then they decide to come out of the reeds and preen.

Which they do with a steady concentration.

This heron didn't seem to care that I was right there next to him.

Maybe he had gotten used to me showing up every morning.

But with a shake and a bit of attitude he had enough of me and left.

Limpkin

Hello I'm a Limpkin.

I love to feed along the edge of the ponds.

And I love to open clams with my long beak and eat the insides.

Then I like to clean myself

and check on my feathers.

One by one.

When I've done all that I've had a very good day.

all grown up

This adult female anhinga displays her grace and beauty.

And she is an outstanding shore runner.

anhinga babies

Two very young anhingas sitting on a tree.

You're wondering what happened to their heads aren't you

Well they like to tuck them in to themselves and take a nap.

And when they're done they like to preen their developing fluffy feathers.

Big sister is showing off her new immature feathers that will help her soar one day.

Her sibling is still trying to have a nap.

They are practicing their communication skills.

They make me laugh. 

Mallards

It's a good day for ducks.

Actually everyday is a good day for ducks.

But today is an especially good day because it's Tom's birthday.

And he loves ducks.

So here they are in all of their glory

swimming in the reflected waters.

Until they've had enough and leave.

Happy Birthday Tom!

Great Blue Heron

Is it something I said?

That you should leave

every time I walk by?

Or are you just giving me a wave

with your spectacular wings!

and that's a wrap

Life is not easy these days.

So hugs are important.

especially when times are tough.

When you become overwhelmed and you feel all alone

Give YOURSELF a hug.

Orange

 When I'm reviewing my images I'm brought back to the moment that I took them.

I remember exactly how I felt when I made the photograph.

I remember the thrill of falling into the petals.

Of seeing how the background effects the colors.

Of the softness that I wanted to express.

Of the energy that was all around me.