Sunday, July 2, 2017

HUNTLEY MEADOWS PARK, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA

Within about a week of returning home from our trip last May, we took our first trip of the year to Huntley Meadows.  It is always a great pleasure to visit.  The day was very pleasant and warm, without being too hot.


Our favorite part of the walk is the wooden boardwalk that takes us through the marshland.  We saw a few birds today but I can never get close enough to get a decent photo.  I covet lenses such as these!


There were the always present Canada Geese.


At least I can get up close to these and I do love them.


This one and its mate had taken over the walkway.  They were nowhere to be seen when we arrived, but on our way back there they were, and after checking to see if we could make our way around them, and getting 'a look', we felt it prudent to go in another direction.  Fortunately there was another path which eventually took us back to our car.


There were several pairs in the area, some took to the air, honking noisily.


This pair passed by a Great Blue Heron sitting in a tree.


We counted at least three Great Blue Herons roosting.  




We also spotted an osprey carrying a fish.


This Red-winged blackbird was merrily singing away.


The next photo is hard to make out but there are lots of little babies swimming behind mom.  I think she may have been a female Merganser.


There was other wildlife around that day.  I am including a snake at the bottom of this post.  Just adding that now in case you don't like them.  In the meantime here is a frog, the only photo I got of one that day.


Then there was this muskrat.


And last but not least, a snake in the undergrowth.


Cropped for a closer look.


A good day for wildlife.  

There are Gregg's photos here as well as my own.  



44 comments:

  1. A WONDERFUL day for wildlife. Thank you so much.

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    1. You are very welcome EC, so glad you enjoyed them.

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  2. Phooey on snakes! But I have never seen one this color. Did it get very close to you? Your camera must be a good one, your pictures are so good! The closeup of the Canada Goose is brilliant! I have done plenty of posts on them, but never taken a picture this good. Even your frog looks brilliant and jewel-like. That pair must be the guardians of the path. I love the blackbird with his beak open and singing!! I have never been able to get a good picture of a red winged.

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    1. I know Ginny, snakes are not a favorite with many but I have had a fascination for them since I was a little girl. No it wasn't that close. This time I had my zoom lens. I don't like to get too close to wildlife and that's why the zoom is perfect, but even then it's not close enough for me. I do like to study my photos on my laptop computer, to see every details of each and every critter, yes including snakes ;) I am very happy you liked my photos, Gregg's too as he took many of them. I am convinced the geese had a nest nearby, as happened after an episode with a pair last year at my favorite garden. Thank you Ginny for all the nice comments :)

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  3. Looking at your photographs took me back to when I walked the dog round the huge lakes near my home. I remember how the geese would suddenly appear on the path in front of me, I thought possibly to protect their young in a nearby nest. Oh happy days, thanks for reminding me.

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    1. I'm glad this post brought back good memories Valerie :)

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  4. Love the geese in flight photos. Beautiful critters. Have a wonderful day!

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  5. I like Canadian geeese but hate snakes

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  6. it sure was a good day for wildlife. love the geese, they are a rare sight here, I have only seen them twice... love the frog, truly do. in 2006 when I bought my first camera with different lens, my friend had a lens like the one you covet and I also coveted. we were out in a preserve one day and she handed it to me and said try it out..... it was so heavy I could not control it. and taking a camera, that lens and a tripod was not something I could do, so I did not get the lens. they are fantastic.. she could use it without tripod, but it hurt my back...

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    1. Thank you Sandra. I always love the geese and the wildlife down in Florida, types that I don't see here :) I think you're right, those bigger zooms would be too heavy for me to carry, along with a tripod. I do love it when I see the close-ups taken with them though.

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  7. Hello, Huntley meadows is a great place for viewing the birds and wildlife. Love the geese in flight, the cute turtle and muskrat. They are all great photos. Happy Sunday, enjoy your day and the new week ahead!

    Happy 4th of July!

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    1. Hi Eileen, thank you and the same to you. The park is always changing. You never know what wildlife will turn up that day, that's the fun of the places we go to isn't it? Happy 4th of July :)

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  8. I can see why you would visit this wetland. There's lots to see .

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  9. Denise, one rarely thinks to look up to view a Great Blue Heron. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. Denise, I would have been beside myself with joy! I also love wooden walkways in marsh areas, and what gorgeous birds and animals! And it makes my day as well to see our friendly Canada geese making their rounds. You got some gorgeous captures, Denise! Thank you so much for sharing.

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    1. Thank you Linda and you are very welcome. I am always in a very happy place when I am when I go there :)

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  11. Such wonderful birds and critters at this place! Great photos. You don't NEED that big lens! Have a wonderful Fourth!

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    1. Thank you Marie, and you're right Marie, I don't need it. Happy Fourth of July :)

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  12. A good day for wildlife indeed, it's a blessing to see that many different varieties in one visit, nice job on the pictures.

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    1. Thank you Jimmy, it was a great day and yes a blessing too.

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  13. Nice photos of wildlife.

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  14. Great photos and I love the snake. I would also love a better telephoto but with only one body it is impossible to have the right lens at the right time. I have 3 lenses and I cannot get it right!!! Have a great week Diane

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  15. Wow! You saw and photographed many creatures. Love how agile that blue heron is sitting up in that tree!

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    1. Thank you Ellen, it was a great day for wildlife.

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  16. How neat....look at all those critters you saw. Nice. Thanks for sharing.

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  17. Wow! These are really awesome photos. You both saw a whole lot of wildlife there. I do love those giant herons. They are such graceful looking birds.

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    1. Thanks Kay, so glad you enjoyed them. I love those herons too.

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  18. your photos are stunning, thanks for sharing this peaceful time.

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    1. Thank you Christine and you are so very welcome :)

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  19. Enjoyed seeing all your photos. Love the GBH in the tree.

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  20. Some of the geese get to be quite big!

    The snake's a welcome sight. I touched one on Canada Day at one of the museums. They are quite dry to the touch.

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    1. They do, and the first time I touched a snake I was quite surprised at how dry it was.

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  21. You are so nice giving us a heads up on the snake.
    Geese are interesting but they can get very territorial plus they do stuff like try and herd their youngin's across major streets every now and then.
    I love great blue herons. They seem to be everywhere!

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    1. I know, not everyone's cup of tea, hence the warning :) We've seen those goose families making their way across the street and causing all kinds of traffic jams :) We saw three herons this day, more than I have seen before before.

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