On January 17th my new friend Merry Robin took me to Salisbury Beach State Reservation. Here on this windswept plain winter birding is all about winter raptors and winter seabirds. On the 17th I saw my first Rough-legged Hawk for Massachusetts and all of New England. Since it was a holiday and Merry did not have to work, she called me up and invited me to go out to breakfast with her. After breakfast she drove me to this nearby beach. I did not know Merry was going to take me here, so I did not have my camera, but I did have my bins! We spent about an hour here that day. I was so impressed with this place that I had Gus bring me back again on the following Saturday. Good thing he did. We barely arrived when this juvenile Bald Eagle flew up in front of us! I jumped from he car to get photos as it flew over the mouth of the river and landed on the beach near some crows before taking off again. We were parked near the boat launch and it was in this same area that I saw two other significant birds. Scroll down to see what we saw!
Red-throated loon-Winter Plumage 1-22-11
Life Bird # 391!
While I watched and counted birds, Gus played with his camera, giving me some great shots for Skywatch Friday. Below you can see us in our winter plumage!
And that’s MY World Tuesday!
Birds seen at Salisbury Beach State Reservation:
- American Black Duck 1-17-11
- White-winged Scoter
- Black Scoter
- Red-breasted merganser
- Common Loon
- Horned Grebe
- Northern Harrier
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Rough-legged Hawk
- Ring-billed gull
- Herring gull
- Great Black-backed gull
- American Crow
- Northern Mockingbird
- Song Sparrow
- Common eider 1-22-11
- Long-tailed duck
- Bufflehead
- Red-throated Loon
- Bald Eagle
This is the total of birds seen by me at this location so far. Click on either link to see the rest of the world through the eyes of others! Enjoy My World Tuesday!
Wow! That harrier almost got ya!
ReplyDeleteAwesome shots of this guy. I wish I could find a chance to do something similar. Thanks for sharing! Here is my entry.
ReplyDeleteYou did have a very sucessful day birding. Love the harrier in flight and the eagle.
ReplyDeleteKathie these in flight shots are spectacular!!! You are finding a lot of great birding places. Your plumage is lovely.
ReplyDeleteWOW so cold and sill shooting bird pictures welll done
ReplyDeletewonderful photos
Have a nice week,
Greetings, Bram
Link to My Word Tuesday post!
Seen on My World Tuesday
Great shots - I really like birds of prey, but they can be a nightmare to ID!
ReplyDeleteSpent some time on the weekend watching Wedge Tailed Eagles (in Australia!) which was a treat.
I don’t think I'd have much use for your jackets down here!
Stewart M - Australia
Fantastic shots, Kathie! I love watching the harriers on their hunt. Awesome shots of the juvenile eagle, they are always amazing. You are finding some great birding spots.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the Northern Harrier Kathie.
ReplyDeleteOh! and the winter plumage.{:)
You always find the birds, wherever you are. Wonderful shots, Kathie.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful raptor images. The juvie Bald Eagle and the Northern Harrier are wondeful - love the landscape too!
ReplyDeleteGreat Harrier photos but my favorite shot is the one of you in your winter plumage, you look very cozy :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos Kathie!
ReplyDeleteI adore both of your Winter Plumage:)