Blue-winged Teal -Life List

Blue-winged Teal are very unusual to see in Virginia, they usually migrate much further south but a small group has made Dutch Gap Conservation Area in Chester VA their winter home.  They have been maintaining a distance from the many, many birders who have flocked to DGCA to see them making it hard to get photographs but on this particular later morning I was lucky enough to see this beautiful female sunning, eating and swimming right off-shore near pier #1.  

Dutch Gap Conservation Area, Chester VA

Olympus OMD-EM1X,  Olympus 100-400 lens + MC-14

Introducing My YouTube Channel

I have decided to create a YouTube channel to compliment this site and my photography.
I have found I really enjoy sharing my photos but after a first glance you the viewer and even myself rarely see them again because no one wants to scroll through pages and pages to see what is there.
I have also started to really enjoy taking and editing video so I will, when I have something to throw together and it relates to my photography share that on my channel as well.

This won’t be all my photos that I share, some will not be shared anywhere but in the videos. Some may be a themed video based on a photo location I visit, the possibilities are endless. I hope you join me by subscribing to my page and see where this will lead me.

Here is the link. Hope to see you there!

https://youtu.be/CglcS4TQevc

Red-Breasted Nuthatch in the Snow

This Red-breasted Nuthatch looks none to pleased about the snow and cold temperatures we are having.  After all the come here each winter to escape it.  Our huge flock seems to have gotten much smaller so I am afraid they have started to leave us for their spring and summer homes.  It has been great fun hearing their calls and songs all winter.  Hopefully they know they are very welcome to return next season.

King William County, VA USA
Olympus OMD-EM1X with 300mm

Ladies Day

It was definitely ladies day for this group of beautiful female cardinals.  For the couple of hours I was out taking pictures in the snow only females showed up to the feeding area.  They were chatting, flying in and out with “no problems in the world” attitudes.  

Later than evening I saw one male cardinal appear for about 5 minutes, without a lady by his side.   I wonder if because of the cold and snow one stays back at the nest.  Their spring chicks should have all fledged now so not sure why that would be the case but they definitely had split up for the day.

King William County, VA USA
Olympus OMD-EM1X with 300mm

What Is That?

The House Finches were very confused yesterday and kept looking around trying to figure out what was this white stuff falling from the sky.  We only got 4-5” but according to the weatherman, it was the most snow we have had at one time since 2018.  Yes, 2018. 

King William County, VA USA

Olympus OMD-EM1X with 300mm Pro

Evening Grosbeak -life list bird

Evening Grosbeaks are not seen in this part of Virginia generally but due to the bird “irruption” of 2020/21 thousands have come further south in search of food.  My friend Michele went with me to Pony Pasture to search them out and wouldn’t you know after almost 3 hours or so of hiking throughout the park searching, as we were headed down the path to our cars we found them.  I thought I only had a picture of the female but then when I looked closer on the computer I found I had both male and females.  They are really pretty in person and its to bad they don’t spend their winters here more often.

Pony Pasture Park, Richmond VA USA

Olympus OMD-EM1X with 100-400mm + MC-14