Spring Great Egrets

 A walk this afternoon out to the pond brought the beatiful site of four Great Egrets on the wetlands. Close to the boardwalk there was also a loon of some sort. After I headed home to get my camera, the loon was gone. The egrets were in a different area when I returned, but I was able to capture 3 of them. Three flew off while the fourth that remained had a bite of dinner. A few geese joined in and a small turtle played along the edge. Why was I out without my camera to begin with? It seems an inexpensive yet sentimental ring my teenager was wearing as the high school track team trained on the trails this afternoon went flying off her finger. If anyone should find a small silver ring, please let us know. A family search did not find the ring.




Great Egret on the Greensprings wetlands



Egret having dinner

Three of four egrets

Just another bite

Life & Growth

The small plant I discovered this past weekend has grown with the rain and sunshine.  The plant is a fern and is currently about 8 inches tall compared to the one inch during the weekend.

Crisp Evening

 The rains have filled the pond once again and have contributed to new growth around the region.  The warm and sunny day today, I am sure the plants and wildlife appreciated every moment.  At present, the temperatures are dropping.  The evening is crisp with a steady breeze blowing across the wetlands. 

Goose flying overhead

fallen tree

1 April (Part 2 Green on Greensprings)

Pond 1st thing this morning

This morning I had hoped for a bright and sunny day.  Seeing that it was still overcast, I headed out with my camera.  This is a continuation of the first post from today about Green on Greensprings. Highlighted here is the wildlife I was able to capture and the pond itself.  I spent a bit of time on the footbridge watching the geese, ducks and Heron before moving out to the Virginia Capital Trail to catch a glimpse of the Mainland Farm.  Today was prood that my desire to photograph the area far exceeds the capabilities of my camera.  Time to upgrade. Today is also the first day of the second year of this blog, although I started taking photos several months earlier.  When I have a chance, I hope to catch up on Fall and Winter photos from the past two years. While on Mainland Farm, it started to sprinkle and the fog moved in over the pond by the time I had returned. 

Goose in Flight

Great Blue Heron

Three of Four Deer

Pond after the rain and fog returned, one hour after above photo of pond

Duck, Duck, Goose, Heron

Green on Greensprings



Mainland Farm



I spent a good hour today watching and trying to capture pictures of the Heron as I can only take so many days watching the Geese.  It is all very fascinating, however the Heron is more interesting to me.  I have decided that my desire to capture the Heron in photography far exceeds the capabilities of my camera.  I need an upgrade badly so as to capture more of the area around me.

Today's theme is "GREEN" on Green Springs after the week or more of rain, the forest is starting to turn to these beautiful shades of greens.  Check out the photo of the vine intertwined on the two branches.  Caught this photo purely by accident when the camera auto focused onto the branch in stead of the heron in the pond.  The small sprout still to be determined what kind of plant it is, I hope to follow the growth of this plant over the next several days to weeks to see what it is and what becomes of it.

Green moss, fueled by the week of rain

Practicing a bit of micro photography

Trees and path starting to turn green

Moss

Pine along Virginia Capital Trail

The Coolest discovery, while trying to zoom in on the Heron, my camera autofocused onto this small vine in front of me, not much bigger than a 1/2 dollar

Raindrops

Jamestown High School side of foot bridge getting green

baby pine tree about 5 inches high

Small 1 inch sprout of plant - I hope to follow the growth of this plant over the next coming weeks

Buds on a branch

31 March

March is already coming to an end. Hopefully the rain will let up some today.  I can't wait to see all of the new growth that has been nourished by this rain.  That always means new photos.  Spring Break starts tomorrow.  I hope to have a lot of photos to celebrate the continuation of spring here in Virginia.

Rainy Day in March

This past saturday morning, the birds were very active.  There seemed to be a battle going on between two sets of Geese.  The Osprey was pulling branches off the dead tree to rebuild his nest.  There was just a lot of activity.  I have already written about the morning in my Great Blue Heron post.  Here I have added more photos taken that morning.  After several rainy and wet days, I am ready for more sunny spring weather. Hope it arrives soon. 

Great Blue Heron - Spring 2011

 First Great Blue Heron pics for Spring 2011 Greensprings Trail wetlands pond, Williamsburg

On at least three occassions lately I have spotted a very elusive Great Blue Heron on the wetlands.  This is not the same bird seen in earlier pictures during the winter.  Finally on Saturday morning I watched as she flew off as I approached the overview area.  Thinking this was the fourth missed opportunity for a photo, I watched the "Great Goose Battle" over the wetlands while two pair of geese faught back and forth over area or women. Not sure which.  A beautiful carninal flew close by.  I also watched an Osprey from the nesting pair fly by an old dead tree, rip the dead branches off the tree and then fly back to its next to rebuild and reinforce the next.  Eventually on this crisp and cool morning, I was able to spot the Heron about half the way into the wetlands.

Great Blue Heron in middle portion of Greensprings Wetlands pond Spring 2011

An Active Spring Day

Today's Journey on the trail began in search of the Great Blue Heron that has been present lately.  At first glance on this cloudy day there seemed to be "nothing" going on.  The Heron was not present at all.  Within about 10 minutes the following things happened.  The sun peaked out from behind the clouds.  I saw the pair of geese and heard other birds.  I began taking pictures of the Osprey that can be seen.  Soon another large bird caught my eye.  It was the Great Heron gracing me with his presence on a "flyover" the wetlands.  As I turned to watch him fly to the opposite end towards the beaver pond area, I noticed a huge Osprey on top of a partially broken tree.  As I was taking pictures of the Osprey, I heard a bit of noise to see many carinals just below me off the foot bridge.  Taking closer look there were also three small deer.  After a few more pictures, I ventured to the main overlook side again to notice the coot and later to notice that he changed sides.  All the while since the sun was now out, many many turtles began to appear on every log and stump. It was at this time that several people began to arrive jogging, walking their dogs and or pushing strollers.  So, the next time you are walking across the boardwalk, footbridge and you think "Oh, NOTHING is out here today"....Spend just a few minutes and you will see an entire world of activity appear before your very eyes.  So much wildlife and beauty to behold.   

Wetlands quiet and peaceful with slightly overcast skies

Cardinal -  one of several as well a few Bluebirds who were scrambling about

one of three small deer

turtles sunning themselves once the sun came out

Beautiful Osprey

Cute - Coot enjoying a relaxing day

Turtles by the dozens coming out of hiding

Small flowers along the high school water overflo pond

Mile marker on the Capital Trail with Daffodils in bloom

Beaver pond end of wetlands