Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Caspian Tern Fishing Flight

One of its attempts but comes up fishless

Cruising along
Spots fish and hovers momentarily



+
Dives straight as an arrow




Splashdown

Begins the recovery even before the water settles

Both wings free for powerful downstroke.






Head on

Dripping  and beginning to shed water.

Shaking just like a dog.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Handsome Kestrel, other birds and 2 Turtuls





Odd looking wot?                 Red Breasted Merganser

Belted Kingfisher

Loon Blowing bubbles

Came up for air

Zorro or Lone Ranger?


Sunday, May 24, 2015

Baby Sitter from Hell

Pair of Canada Geese in process of hatching their brood and then the arrival of an unwelcome guest.
Nest and brooding goose on abandoned Beaver Lodge (left). Partner on guard (right)


After stepping off the nest for a few minutes,

She turns around to find this ugly Snapping Turtle has decided to catch a few rays on the best spot around

AAAAAAAAGH!!!!!

Get away Get away!

Wee Gosling doesn't know what to make of the new Nanny
Parent returns for another look

Looks like the youngster is trying to struggle free.


Tries yelling at the beast

Baby's free but no idea what to do next

mamma moves in to check

Jumps into the air and  accidentally lands on the end of a piece of driftwood .Clever move but it missed the Snapper anyway.   :>)

Now tries screaming

No effect. But chick has gone into hiding and turtle has put its foot on a pair of unhatched eggs.

Moving in closer and yelling louder. "now that's going too far!"


Running out of patience, she makes her move
Jumping high...........

She lands and bounces off the creature.

Who finally decides it has had enough

Giving up it's choice sunning area ( and it's new found gosling friend )

it moves on down the lodge to the water.

where it..............................
scares the wits out of the two parents who had been quietly planning strategy

Baby reappears and  keeps company with the remaining unhatched eggs.

Happy parent returns

Preparing to resume the hatching process

Taking inventory


Gently settling down
There.  Back to normal 




Footnote

Next day found an empty nest. Presumed all remaining eggs hatched and family moved away into a sheltered area  of the marsh.