So Many Waxwings

So many Cedar Waxwings, so so many!! I only see them when I am with Parks Rountrey and today was a bonanza, thousands is not an exaggeration! I have so many photos to go through but here is a taste of what Parks, Michele Garrigan and I observed.

@Historic Tuckahoe thanks for your hospitality of allowing us onto the grounds.

Greater Yellowlegs - Lifer

Taken at a small swamp area outside Mathews VA, the Greater Yellowlegs was one of my several “lifers” on Friday.  The Greater Yellowlegs breed in the northern areas of Canada and migrate down to southern points throughout the North and Mid-atlantic coasts.  Sadly according to Audubon, the species has a high vulnerability rate due to climate changes throughout its breeding and migration routes.

Snow Bunting -Lifer!

What a fantastic day of photography and hanging with friends I had yesterday at Bethel Beach near Matthews VA.  Everything came into perfect sync and I was able to not only get this lifer, the Snow Bunting but 4-5 more which I will share over the next several days.

The Snow Buntings breed in the most northern areas of Canada and Greenland and while they do migrate to the US Atlantic states, they rarely make it as far south as Virginia according to the Audubon and All About Bird websites so this was a huge treat to see and photograph.

"Famous" Richmond American Kestrel (Male)

This male American Kestrel has become quite the famous Falcon this winter on the Flood Wall in Downtown Richmond.  I just had to get down there and try my hand at photographing him.  

Wilson's Snipe - Lifer for Me

Thanks to @BarbaraHouston I was able to photograph another “lifer” yesterday, the Wilson’s Snipe while at Dutch Gap. There is no way I would have seen any of them without her help.  These cute shorebirds remained in the reeds and swamp grass for most of the time we were there but did come out to enjoy the sun for a short time and I was able to catch them when they appeared in the open.

First Time Out - Lifer

For many reasons, I have not touched my camera in almost a year. Today was a bright sunny, relatively warm day for December so decided to see if I still knew how to turn it on. 

Guy and I headed to Dutch Gap, it had been over a year since I have been there. Wood birds were all the usual suspects and the water fowl were out of view as most of the swamp area is frozen over however I was able to not only remember how to turn the camera on, but also how to use a few settings and when I saw this beautiful Merlin, male I believe he just sat there and posed for a few photos.  How crazy to get a lifer on my first day out but I did LOL. 

I’ve missed using my camera, hoping to chisel out more time to get out and use it.