It's SkyWatch Friday! Look up!
I did some skywatching while checking out the heron nests this week.
Just a vulture, but a nice cloudy sky for his flight.
This is the group of Bald Cypress trees where the herons have their rookery. I included this shot to show how far away they are. Unfortunately, my camera isn't really good enough for close shots at that distance!
I was asked how many nests there are in this rookery. So, Mike and I tried to do some counting this time. I counted about 44 and gave up, and Mike says he counted 60+....he has better distance vision than I do :-) It is hard to tell where one nest ends and another starts at times.
A friendly little cluster sort of in the open making them easier to get a photo....about 9 nests.
This is one of the most concentrated area of nests around the old eagle's nest. Last year it had eagles, but we haven't seen them since early spring this year. I think they may have built a new nest. They may be further back and closer to the river. We saw one of them flying over the river when we drove across the bridge.
I like this nest out on a nice easy to see limb. I hope to be able to watch this one closely.
There are always a lot of comings and goings. The area below the nests is a swampy area where the birds fish for dinner and then fly back to the nest.
The nest at the top of this tree is another easy one to watch. I think that most of the nests are occupied. Sometimes they are sitting on the nest, and many times they are standing. I don't know if there are chicks yet....I can't see them well enough for that.
This was one of 6 that we could see wading and fishing below the nests.
The area along the side of the road where we stand to watch the heron is full of vegetation of all kinds and Red-Wing Blackbirds flying around. The Black Locust trees are in bloom and the fragrance is really strong. They are beautiful flowers!
Several of these little white butterflies were dancing in the air and I finally caught one sitting still for a few seconds. I also saw a zebra stripped butterfly but wasn't quick enough for a photo.
A wildflower on the other side of the road....
....and another.
One last sky shot from back at home over the Spirea bushes with a couple insects hovering around.
That is my sky for this week....blue and cloudy the last few days.
Just a vulture, but a nice cloudy sky for his flight.
This is the group of Bald Cypress trees where the herons have their rookery. I included this shot to show how far away they are. Unfortunately, my camera isn't really good enough for close shots at that distance!
I was asked how many nests there are in this rookery. So, Mike and I tried to do some counting this time. I counted about 44 and gave up, and Mike says he counted 60+....he has better distance vision than I do :-) It is hard to tell where one nest ends and another starts at times.
A friendly little cluster sort of in the open making them easier to get a photo....about 9 nests.
This is one of the most concentrated area of nests around the old eagle's nest. Last year it had eagles, but we haven't seen them since early spring this year. I think they may have built a new nest. They may be further back and closer to the river. We saw one of them flying over the river when we drove across the bridge.
I like this nest out on a nice easy to see limb. I hope to be able to watch this one closely.
There are always a lot of comings and goings. The area below the nests is a swampy area where the birds fish for dinner and then fly back to the nest.
The nest at the top of this tree is another easy one to watch. I think that most of the nests are occupied. Sometimes they are sitting on the nest, and many times they are standing. I don't know if there are chicks yet....I can't see them well enough for that.
This was one of 6 that we could see wading and fishing below the nests.
The area along the side of the road where we stand to watch the heron is full of vegetation of all kinds and Red-Wing Blackbirds flying around. The Black Locust trees are in bloom and the fragrance is really strong. They are beautiful flowers!
Several of these little white butterflies were dancing in the air and I finally caught one sitting still for a few seconds. I also saw a zebra stripped butterfly but wasn't quick enough for a photo.
A wildflower on the other side of the road....
....and another.One last sky shot from back at home over the Spirea bushes with a couple insects hovering around.
That is my sky for this week....blue and cloudy the last few days.What is in your sky today?
For more SkyWatch, click on the icon on my sidebar and see skies all over the world.
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11 comments:
You have a lot of nice photos in this post. Many I never see, like the Herons. I also like the photos in the sidebar. Most of them I do get to see.
Wow,I would love to see this place,too bad it's so far away from my home.Thanks for sharing these images.Have a wonderful day.
Blessings,Ruth
Great captures of the heron, Mary! The wildflowers are pretty, too.
Hi Mary,
This is a wonderful rookery. There are so many nest I wouldn't know which way to look first. Your photos of all the birds, flowers and butterflies are beautiful.
Mary: Fun shots at the rookery, such a fun place.
All pictures are great, but I love the birds in the trees especially.
Just discovered the suirrel in your sidebar, it is adorable !
Wow they are nesting all over and I like that. They had to thrive and not be shot ^_^ Happy weekend!
SkyWatchFriday
Hi Mary, Love seeing the Heron rookery... There are LOTS of nests in that area...
Aren't you just so sad hearing about the oil spill in LA???? I hate thinking about all of the water birds and fish who will probably die... I am just so SAD ---and MAD. How could this happen????
Hugs,
Betsy
I don't think I've ever seen such a large number of nests in such a relatively small area. Thanks for these intriguing pictures (and for counting the nests!).
Wow, what a lot of heron nests!
Lovely set of photos here Mary, I haven't seen any Goslings yet.
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