Phil Lanoue Photography

Still Here…

This past weekend we went over to the salt marsh to see what might be going on, and also to check in on our recently returned buddy Radar.

At first I didn’t see Radar, but looking out across the marsh I thought I saw an egret head poking up from among the reeds. Within a short time the egret came busting up and out of the reed area and flew across the water. I immediately saw it was Radar.

He flew over to the other end and started fishing. So once again, all is right with the marsh world.

Fast Fun Flyers

Yesterday afternoon we had a couple of Forster’s Terns working the salt marsh at mid tide. These small terns are built for speed and they can make you dizzy trying to follow them as they fly around searching for a fish.

But it is fun to watch them zipping above the water in quick erratic flights and try to predict which direction one might ‘tern’ next.

Often they do a quick gulp after catching a fish, and other times they fly off with it as this one is doing in these photos.

Our pal Radar even popped up his head for a quick photo bomb as one of the terns jetted by… 🙂

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the marsh and best wishes for a healthy and happy new year!

He’s Back!!

We finally got some good news Sunday morning when we received a report that Radar had been sighted in his usual area around the marsh. The last photos I have of him were taken Nov. 21 so he has been gone for a month. We were all starting to get quite concerned.

He has disappeared before, for even a couple of weeks, but this time everyone was worried that if we never saw him again we wouldn’t know for sure what had happened to him. Radar clearly has some secret place he sneaks off to on occasion! Perhaps the big crowd of pelicans and cormorants that all arrived in November got to be too much for him. He has never been a flock mentality type of bird and is more of a loner. A loner that feels he is head egret and basically owns the marsh.

Today was the first chance I had to go look for him and sure enough, there he was patrolling his territory like he was never gone. He even stared down and chased off another egret that dared to fish in ‘his’ salt marsh.

It was already dark and raining when I was there so it was just well that after about ten minutes Radar took off and flew out across the water.

In any case it was good seeing our electronically enhanced friend! 🙂

Quick Jump

Earlier this week on a cold, grey late afternoon, a great egret jumps off from the marsh pond on his way back for an evening roost.

Friday Afternoon

It was a mostly quiet afternoon yesterday over at the marsh.

A great blue heron as usual had to announce his comings and goings. A mixed group of male and female hooded mergansers floated along on their standard patrol.

A young white ibis picked along in the shallow water at the edge of the marsh searching for a tasty treat. And an egret still hard at work fishing, is silhouetted by warm setting sunlight to wind down the day.

Another Pop Up

Well our fuzzy little mink friend is back. This afternoon we saw him pop out from behind some rocks along the edge of the marsh. He scampered around for a bit before disappearing back down into the rocks.

We waited for a little while, but never did see him pop back up. I have to figure he has a bunch of cozy hiding spots down in among the rocks and brush.