Saltmarsh Shadows

While drifting through the final bends of the saltmarsh aboard the Osprey, I spotted a group of five Boat-tailed Grackles moving low through the reeds near the mouth of Jarvis Sound.

https://islandinthenet.com/calling-out-lifting-off/

On June 8, 2024, Bhavna and I drove to the Ocean City Welcome Center. It was an exceptional day for bird-watching. The weather was perfect – clear blue skies and a comfortable 25°C (77°F). As I strolled through the area below the welcome centre, I spotted two beautiful Boat-tailed Grackles (Quiscalus major).

The first grackle caught my eye as it perched atop a tree. Its iridescent plumage glistened in the sunlight, displaying an array of deep blues and purples. I couldn’t resist capturing a few shots, enjoying how the light accentuated its feathers against the clear sky.

A short while later, I noticed another grackle wading through a nearby marsh. This one moved slowly through the shallow water, its reflection creating a beautiful mirror image. The grackle's colours shimmered against the greenery and water. I stood and watched it move.

I identified these birds using iNaturalist and the Cornell Labs Merlin ID app, confirming they were indeed Boat-tailed Grackles. The grackle does not have the vibrant colours of warblers or the majesty of egrets and herons, but in its own way, it’s an attractive bird.

https://islandinthenet.com/boat-tailed-grackle/

#BirdWatching #Birding #BoatTailedGrackle #Grackle #OceanCity #OceanCityWelcomeCenter #Quiscalus #QuiscalusMajor

A Boat-tailed #Grackle singing on a wooden handrail.
The grackle has black feathers coated in oil to create the #iridescent sheen that changes with the bird’s movements.

Get a print of this or another image at https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/singing-grackle-heron-and-fox.html

#BoatTailedGrackle #QuiscalusMajor #BirdSinging #BirdsOfMastodon

A female boat-tailed grackle (Quiscalus major) foraging in the mud in the East Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

#boattailedgrackle #QuiscalusMajor #grackle #nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #eastpond #wildliferefuge #canonphotography #luminarneo #jamaicabay