March 31, 2008 by OrientSee.

In a moment the sky clouded over and the wind grew chill and there is still ice on the puddles. The redwings were loud and incessant but everything else seemed to be heading for cover as the newest round of bad weather approaches. I read all the bird sightings and am in a bit of a funk. All these cool birds and hardly a new visitor to Belle Isle yet. It’s like waiting for your birthday when you were eight. Endless boring wait. I do have a little self control (very little according to my wife) but I want to see “our” ospreys back. I want to see the broad white wings of a great egret. I want. I want. I want. I’m going to go pout about the injustice of it all. Mostly this endless cold windy wet weather has got to end soon, I hope.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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March 27, 2008 by OrientSee.

This wing is all that’s left after some predator had its meal. Looking closer, I was struck by its beauty. I am often speechless in the presence of the ordinary. It would have been impossible to get this close while the bird was alive. The marsh was relatively tame today. A Harrier passed overhead on its way to the Winthrop shore. The Green-winged Teal was still paddling about but except for the gulls and the crows, not much was about. The Oasis had a few Buffleheads, Mallards and Black Ducks but again no standouts. Spring is slow in coming here to Belle Isle.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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March 26, 2008 by OrientSee.

Very windy and very warm for March (58°). It was a shock to be out and not have cold ears. It was quiet except for the ducks. Both green winged and blue winged Teal in one photo. Plenty of mallards and black ducks about as well. If I get out early tomorrow, I’m hoping to see some new arrivals. The morning is supposed to be warm as well. I have my fingers crossed. Midday is simply not the time to go watching. The weekend promises to be cold again and with a mix of precipitation, just yucky.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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March 25, 2008 by OrientSee.

Bright cold and windy. I was out to the donut (Revere side - old radio antenna station). There was not much going on. A pair of killdeer were loudly not pleased with me being there. It was a wonderful day to be out alone. This impromptu bench might have been set on a mountaintop in China. All it lacks is an saffron robed monk. The best part of walking around the marsh sometimes is getting empty. It is quiet and often tranquil (in spite of the planes). Stress leaks away and the teeming void fills that space. Call it meditation or whatever. It is a quiet joy.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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March 24, 2008 by OrientSee.

Yesterday was sort of a blah day out in the marsh. Today I started by swinging by the Oasis which had an assortment of ducks, gulls and redwings. It was an idyllic view made strangely lovelier by the squat oil tanks that surround the ponds. Out to Belle Isle proper and saw a couple of redtail hawks and nearly a dozen Killdeer at Rosie’s Pond. Out at the overlook I was glad that I brought my scope with me. I got to watch this guy who was definitely looking for lunch. I was surprised to see him turn his head nearly 270 degrees. Apparently owls aren’t the only ones who can do this. The other thing was that I got to see him fold one leg up into his breast fluff and stand one legged on the branch for a while. The cold must have been getting to him too. Finally, I saw two Great Blue Herons which I haven’t see for months. All in all it was a great day to be out in the clear blue sky.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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March 22, 2008 by OrientSee.

Today as I walked up to Rosie’s Pond, I flushed the redtail hawk. It came up off the marsh grass and flew slowly around the casket factory towards the lower part of the hill where I live. Nothing very unusual. Fast forward. Almost home, I found a decapitated robin across the street from my house. The robin was definitely the victim of some predator. That was a little weird but no connection to anything else. I downloaded my photos and found that one of the photos of the redtail showed it flying with something in its beak. Connection made. The hawk had been feeding on the robin on the grass when I disturbed it. It took off with the robin in its grip and flew towards my home and dropped it for some reason shortly after I lost sight of it. The robin feathers up close were beautiful to see. Today’s clear picture is of the muskrat pond from the back side. I took the time to find a different way to the pond so that I might approach it from a another angle when the egrets and herons return in numbers. It is quite pretty.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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March 20, 2008 by OrientSee.

Today the rain storm finally ended as extremely high tides flooded the marsh. The result was that lots of seeds and plant matter got churned up and brought to the surface. The tide then drained and a feasting board was set for the geese, brant, ducks and gulls that covered the marsh flats feeding. There were some very attractive green winged teal as well as mallards, black ducks and buffleheads. There was lots of activity to watch. Overhead one of the gulls swung over me as he maneuvered to land close by. I could almost touch him. The thickets were very quiet except for a small flock of juncos. The marsh itself was the focus today and it was great.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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March 18, 2008 by OrientSee.

It was the middle of the day and curiously quiet. It’s not a good time to go out looking at the marsh. The sky was bright and blue but there was little movement and sound. It became a very quiet meditative stroll without any surprises. I was a little edgy and couldn’t relax because it seemed too quiet. All the water is liquid; the ice has all melted. It was just an empty sort of day.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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March 16, 2008 by OrientSee.

Gull Flight 3702 commencing takeoff roll. Today was a very March day, cold, damp and overcast. Not your typical day in Phoenix. There were plenty of ducks, gulls and crows combing the marsh for goodies. A smallish flock of Canada Geese were browsing the grass. Next to the sea means that it stays cold in the spring and all those low systems slide up the coast on their way to Nova Scotia and Greenland. Some migrants are already passing through but the big flocks of cormorants haven’t been through yet. The warblers and the heron-egret crowds are on the way but not here yet. Some one further south reported a Greater Yellowlegs so that means the shorebirds will be coming soon as well. Right now it’s all about waiting, waiting for more color as the plants start growing again and waiting for the plant eaters. The only real green right now is the wild onion shoots (if you are interested in locally grown produce). March is greening and not just for St. Patrick.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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March 14, 2008 by OrientSee.

A quiet day. The temperature was up above 50 which was very, very enjoyable. Two male pheasants were running about. At this time of year the bright rush of color against the dull vegetation is a real shock to the optic nerve. I also got a real charge from watching a male Mallard. That green is the color of royalty. A coat that green would be enviable. The geese are thinning out but a few small flocks are still around. These geese were feeding around the edge of the pan out by the overlook and were too busy eating to pay much attention to me. Tomorrow will be a wet sprinkly day best spent inside so today was very enjoyable.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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