Sunday, March 8, 2015

Winter at Mere Point Boat Launch

1. 12-21-14 buffleheads-kab Buffleheads in Mere Point Bay 12-21-14

On the first day of winter I took a walk to Mere Point Boat Launch. Gray skies predominated the landscape, and though it was cold, I bundled up and enjoyed my walk.

2. 12-21-14 bittersweet berries-kab A tangle of bittersweet vines was visible as I started down the road. I knew that later in the season these would be frequented by robins and waxwings. However, I never would have thought I would see an Eastern Bluebird feeding here on February of this year, my first sighting of that species at this location!

3. 12-21-14 hairy woodpecker-kab But for today, I just watched as a female Hairy Woodpecker chipped away at an insect infested tree trunk!

4. 12-21-14 bcch-kab Below the woodpecker a black-capped chickadee foraged in the brush.

5. 12-21-14 RTHA first sighting-kab As I neared the boat launch I sighted a red-tailed hawk!

Though I had seen many hawks fly over my yard, this was the first time I had seen a Red-tail at the boat launch!

6. 12-21-14 SUSC-kab Down in the bay some surf scoters paddled 12-21-14

7. 12-21-14 AMCR pair-kab And while I was watching birds, the crows were watching me!

I have seen crows at the boat launch almost every time I count here!

8. 12-21-14 buffleheads in cove-kab Today the shallow cove was filled with female buffleheads.

9. 12-21-14 COLO-kab While out in deeper water a Common Loon drifted.

10. 12-21-14 ducks landing-kab I heard the whistle of wings as a black duck and a mallard landed in the cove. I counted 24 species of birds here on this winter afternoon. By early January I was back again. I was not here at this time of year last year and I wanted to be sure to get a record of the species that were being seen. I wanted to add some data to the Mere Point Life List on eBird.

January 6th was a gray and dreary day.

11. 1-6-15 eagle-kab A distant immature bald eagle was little more than a fuzzy speck in the sky as it flew ponderously over the bay! The flat gray light made for lousy photos, but I still enjoyed seeing and counting birds.

12. 1-6-15 goldeneyes-kab I spotted a couple of Common Goldeneyes paddling by.

13. buffleheads-kab A few of the buffleheads were still around 1-6-15

January 11, 2015

14. 1-11-15 fox at the boat launch-kabI had barely started down the road when I saw a pair of red foxes crossing the parking lot of the boat launch. I could only get one in the frame as the other was farther ahead and behind a snow bank.

15. 1-11-15 icy bay-kab Sunset on the icy water of Mere Point Bay at 4:27 PM.

All the boats were out of the water by now.

Soon this bay would ice over for good.

16. 1-11-15 birch island-kab I could see a few ducks in the water near Birch Island.

17. 1-11-15 Scaups mere Point Boat launch-kab A small flock of Greater Scaup rode the waves.

18. ducks in flight-kab Other flocks of ducks took to the sky and disappeared towards Simpson’s Point and Middle Bay.

19. 1-11-15 red fox-kab I took my cue from the red fox and headed home.

20. Dec-21-14 crow on the rocks-kab

  American Crow at Mere Point Bay 12-21-14

9 comments:

  1. Brrrr that looks mighty chilly Kathie, you are a hardier soul than I am. The Red Foxes look very fluffy and well fed :)

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    1. Celeste, I have no choice. I have to be hardy! I would rather be outside than in, except when it's really cold and the wind is blowing! Brrr! I love to see the foxes!

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  2. Heading home. Sensible Fox and sensible Lady.{:))

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  3. You had another great day out birding. Loved seeing the Fox against the white snow.

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    1. Margaret, I like that picture too, even though the fox was looking away from me. I was so happy to see them as they have not visited my yard for awhile.

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  4. That is so cold!!!! Lots of pretty birds though. I'm hoping that cold stays around for a little while.

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  5. nice bird shots...especially in the COLD!! i like the hairy woodpecker...the hawk in flight & the foxes!!

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  6. Hi Kathie. An excellent round up of your winter birding.

    I hope the anticipated storms don't keep you inside for too long and the fun will definitely begin when the migrants start arriving. Stay warm and safe.

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Welcome to my nest! I hope you will enjoy spending time here with me and the birds. Thank you for your comments. I will try to get back to you as soon as I get back from counting more birds.