In the Backyard

I made it out yesterday to Seashore, and hiked my 10 mile route, but unfortunately I really didn't get any good photos. I saw a couple of Green Herons, too far out, and a fair amount of Gnatcatchers and Chickadees, but, couldn't get any. So, went out behind my building this afternoon and took some of the Night-Herons as they were fishing near the Chrysler Museum. Please keep in mind that this page cuts my photos off so they appear uncentered. Just click on the photos themself to see the whole photo at this resolution, or click the links below the photos to open up the high-res versions at Panoramio.com.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. Photo taken 7/12/09.

Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. Photo taken 7/12/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. Photo taken 7/12/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Great Egret. Photo taken 7/12/09.
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Great Egret. Photo taken 7/12/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Animals on Holiday

Rough Green Snake. Photo taken 7/3/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Carolina Chickadee. Photo taken 7/3/09.
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Green Heron. Photo taken 7/3/09.
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Rough Green Snake. Photo taken 7/3/09.
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Dragonfly (species?) Photo taken 7/3/09.
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Eastern Kingbird. Photo taken 7/3/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

The Heat is On

I woke up slightly late this morning and was graced with the presence of 90 degree heat & 100% humidity. I figured it might be a little cooler in some of the cypress swamps and on the bayfront but was sadly mistaken. Hiking a slightly different route for a change, I knocked off 11 miles, and felt every mile of the intense heat. I wanted to try out the Osmanthus trail since I've been looking for Cottonmouths all spring & haven't seen any. This trail has a lot more freshwater swamps then the other trails in the park, but unfortunately I wasn't able to see any. I did however, get to see a Spotted Turtle crossing the trail, so it was worthwhile afterall.

Spotted Turtle. Photo taken 6/20/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Bird activity has really shut down in the park over the past couple of weeks as migration is now overwith. The reptiles, amphibians & insects have made a profound step in taking over that thrown however. Small toads and frogs were all over the ground throughout the park, and along with the Spotted Turtle, I also saw a large Snapping Turtle near the east junction of the Osprey & Long Creek Trails, and also a Yellow-bellied Slider. Lizards & Snakes were also represented well today, with a 4-5' Black Rat Snake making an appearance, and startling me to death, and several skinks & one gorgeous Fence Lizard.

Northern Fence Lizard. Photo taken 6/20/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Bird life wasn't totally absent, as my favorite Green Heron made one appearance near the West Twin Tidal Creek, and an immature Bald Eagle took off from nearby as well. All in all it was a good day for animal sightings, it was just unfortunate the humidity was so high as it seems my photos never turn out quite as good as they can under dry skies.

Cicada. Photo taken 6/20/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Yellow Swallowtail. Photo taken 6/20/09.
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Butterfly (Sp.?). Photo taken 6/20/09.
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The Scenery. Photo taken 6/20/09.
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Summer is Here; Migration is Over

Finally made it out hiking for the morning again & did the same 10 mile circuit. This time around, nothing was really moving around, although I did get to see the Green Heron a few more times, and a few Great Blues. A very quiet day in the woods.

Song Sparrow. Photo taken 6/6/09.

Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Racerunner (Six-lined subspecies). Photo taken 6/13/09.
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Raccoon Tracks. Photo taken 6/13/09.
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May 30th, 2009 - First Landing State Park

I did the same hike as last saturday (~10 miles) but definitely saw a lot more this time. I'm also now realizing that I have a setting on my camera turned down, which explains to me why the quality hasn't been as high as it was the first few times I used it. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that till I got home, so the photos I took today are on a lower DPI then is available with my camera. Anway, some highlights today were finally getting to take a ton of photos of the Green Heron that has managed to evade me almost every time I see it... Seeing a Great Blue Heron skewer a Flounder and proceed to toss it up and inhale it all in one piece... A female Common Snapping Turtle laying her eggs in the sand along one of the secondary park trails... all in all, it was a gorgeous day! Here were a few of the 150+ photos I took this morning-

View over the tidal marsh. Photo taken 5/30/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Northern Watersnake. Photo taken 5/30/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Eastern Bluebird. Photo taken 5/30/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Common Snapping Turtle laying eggs on the trail. Photo taken 5/30/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Male American Goldfinch. Photo taken 5/30/09.
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Blue Jay. Photo taken 5/30/09.
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White Hill Lake & surrounding marshland. Photo taken 5/30/09.
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My Green Heron. Photo taken 5/30/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Green Heron stalking minnows in the shallows. Photo taken 5/30/09.
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Green Heron. Photo taken 5/30/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Green Heron. Photo taken 5/30/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Green Heron. Photo taken 5/30/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Great Blue Heron. Photo taken 5/30/09.
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Great Blue Heron, apparently he had an itch. Photo taken 5/30/09.
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Great Blue Heron & the Flounder he skewered. Photo taken 5/30/09.
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Eating the flounder in 1 bite! Photo taken 5/30/09.
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May 23rd, 2009 - First Landing State Park

Saturday (5/23/2009) was a pretty solid 10 mile hike day. Took a bunch of photos, these were the ones I liked the most. Again the same Green Heron taunted me the entire way along Broad Bay & Long Creek, allowing me only a couple decent photos before he'd fly 20 feet ahead of me.

Northern Parula with an apparently delicious Grasshopper. Photo taken 5/23/09.

Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Green Heron, one of the few times he wasn't hiding behind something. Photo taken 5/23/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Northern Watersnake hidden in the reeds. Photo taken 5/23/09.
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Ghost Crab next to its mighty sand cavern. Photo taken 5/23/09.
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Eastern Kingbird. Photo taken 5/23/09.
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Five-lined Skink, probably wondering why I was taking his photo. Photo taken 5/23/09.
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May 10th, 2009 - Outside Hague Tower

I was driving back from the store this afternoon, and saw the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron walking along the headwall out back of my building. So I ran up and got my camera, and went out and shot some photos. Today was the first day I noticed that it is a breeding pair of herons, as one flew right in front of me while I was busy zoomed in on the other. I've been seeing them all week around the headwall, which is amazing for me since I'd only seen 1 other night-heron in my entire life.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at the Hague in downtown Norfolk. All photos taken 5/10/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Stalking minnows in the shallows...
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"What are you looking at?" Photo Taken 5/10/09.
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Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at the Hague in downtown Norfolk hunting minnows along the headwall. Photo Taken 5/10/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

He caught quite a few minnows, there's one thrashing in his mouth in this shot. Photo Taken 5/10/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

May 9th, 2009 - First Landing State Park

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at the Hague in downtown Norfolk. Photo Taken 5/9/09.

Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Spotted Sandpiper at First Landing State Park. Photo Taken 5/9/09.
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Butterfly (species?) at First Landing State Park. Photo Taken 5/9/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)

Female American Goldfinch at First Landing State Park. Photo Taken 5/9/09.
Location info & Larger Photo available Here, (click the photo at the site)