Here is a slide show of an Osprey fishing in a pond at Fair Haven Beach State Park on April 21st! It was getting late and cold and we had debated on calling it a day but I am so glad we didn't! See for yourself. Please be sure to like or comment on Naturally Adrift Photo on Facebook!
April can be beautiful, warm, sunny rainy, snowy, cold and any combination in between, usually wet in New York state and this year mother nature can't make up her mind! The birds at Montezuma National Wild Refuge appeared to be arguing over whose idea it was to fly north so early. Honestly migration is right on time it is just the weather has not warmed up much. The seagulls in particular seem most argumentative among each other. "Whose idea was it to leave sunny Florida to come to this frozen wasteland?" We needed out of the house. Disliking the cold we opted to drive the wildlife drive around Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge about three times. They had quite a variety of ducks, Northern Shovelers, Mallards, Coots, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Blue winged Teal, and lots of Geen Winged Teals,and Bufflehead just to name a few. Many were too far out to photograph but we still found some mingling with the Geese closer to the drive. Each loop around provided slightly different scenes or birds to photograph. Be sure to click on each image to see them larger. There were many other larger birds of prey there. I've seen a Northern Harrier there on many occasions. In the last shot above that is a Northern Harrier flying just ahead of the Sand Hill Cranes (not the best photo but interesting). Eagles often take up residence at Montezuma and I saw two or three of them at great distance. Then my husband and I got a good chuckle a woman came over to us excited to see all the baby Eagles above us, She said she was a bird expert but 99% of the "baby Eagles" were actually turkey vultures. She was so excited we didn't have the heart to correct her. My husband sees turkey vultures all the time where he works. Sad to go home at the end of the day we stopped at the boat launch across from Montezuma's entrance to put our gear away. As I lifted my camera bag up I heard the chatter of a belted Kingfisher. I got out the car and the kingfisher took flight just as I found it! To my delight though it landed in a tree closer to me! Hope you enjoyed the photos! Please look for and like Naturally Adrift Photo on Facebook!
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Julie MetottNature Photographer, wife, mother, lover of outdoor adventure! Archives
November 2022
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