Just your average Wednesday lunch, with a side of terracotta and skylight 🏛️☀️

#Chicago #Potbelly #TheRookery

At the bottom of the stairs, on the ground level of the Ocean City Welcome & Information Center, I had my first Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) sighting. The eagle stood by edge of the water, its powerful body framed between the shimmering marsh water and the green grass in the foreground. Its sharp, hooked beak and intense gaze exuded, at least to me, strength and dominance. Excited, I ran under the bridge toward the water, hoping to get a closer look.

Under the bridge, it was shaded and cool, a nice break from the sun. As I got closer, I noticed a man standing nearby, doing exactly what I wanted to do – photographing the eagle. We exchanged greetings and talked about how unusual it was to see an eagle at the salt marsh. Bald Eagles aren’t typically seen here. We were both thrilled by the unexpected opportunity to photograph this bird.

Seeing the Bald Eagle’s powerful presence and striking white head was exciting. I managed to capture some wonderful photographs. The eagle was being dive-bombed by a few shorebirds, which I couldn’t identify. The attacking birds were a blur of motion above the eagle, their wings swept back like a fighter plane. Despite the barrage, the eagle remained unfazed, maintaining its dignified stance.

After repeated harassment from the other birds, the Bald Eagle decided it was time to move on. I captured a photograph mid-flight, with its wings spread wide, showcasing the patterns of its feathers. The motion of its powerful wings displayed grace and agility.

Learning that the Bald Eagle is critically endangered (S1B, S1N) in New Jersey made this sighting even more special. According to NatureServe, this status means the Bald Eagle is at a very high risk of local extinction during both the breeding and non-breeding seasons.

https://islandinthenet.com/bald-eagle/

#BaldEagle #BirdWatching #Birding #Eagle #Haliaeetus #HaliaeetusLeucocephalus #OceanCity #OceanCityWelcomeCenter #TheRookery

As Bhavna and I were ready to leave the Ocean City Welcome & Information Center, we walked back on the path toward the parking area. I slowed down a bit to make sure I didn’t miss any of the birds I expected to find. I’m glad I did. I saw a Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) and I also saw a Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax).

I also saw a Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). This bird, with its stocky build, black crown and back, grey wings, and a white-to-greyish body, stood out strikingly against the green of the leaves. Its stout black bill and notable red eyes gave it an almost spooky appearance. The red eyes reminded me of the eyes of demons and evil characters like the Sith in Star Wars.

The Black-crowned Night Heron, whose conservation status is imperilled (S2B, S3N) in New Jersey, US (NatureServe), is typically found in wetlands, marshes, and along shorelines, feeding primarily on fish, crustaceans, and insects. I did not see any Black-crowned Night Heron chicks. Perhaps, like the Yellow-crowned Night Heron chicks, they were well-hidden in the dense foliage or had already fledged and left the nest.

The atmosphere was serene, filled with the sounds of water, wind, and birdsong. In the distance, I could hear the hum of power boats and jet skis. Salt marshes are some of the world's most productive yet vulnerable ecosystems.

After we left the Welcome Center, I pulled up the location on Google Maps. Panning around the salt marsh, I noticed that the paved walkway extended north. Had we explored a bit more, we would have discovered a path to the other side of the Rookery with expansive views of the Great Egg Harbour Bay. I may have been able to get more incredible photographs of the birds foraging for food in the marsh. I need to make another trip before the birds move on.

https://islandinthenet.com/black-crowned-night-heron-nycticorax-nycticorax/

#BirdWatching #Birding #BlackCrownedNightHeron #Heron #Nycticorax #NycticoraxNycticorax #OceanCity #OceanCityWelcomeCenter #TheRookery

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

As Bhavna and I were ready to leave the Ocean City Welcome & Information Center, we walked back on the path toward the parking area. I slowed down a bit to make sure I didn’t miss any of the birds I expected to find. I’m glad I did. Bhavna was the one who noticed the Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) standing amidst the grass and wildflowers. I was preoccupied and distracted by a Song Sparrow hiding in a nearby bush.

[caption id="attachment_115985" align="aligncenter" [...]

https://islandinthenet.com/yellow-crowned-night-heron-nyctanassa-violacea/

Little Blue Heron

After a session photographing the majestic Great Egrets, Glossy Ibis, and White Ibis, Bhavna and I decided to explore further beneath the bridge at the Roy Gillian Welcome Center in Ocean City. The dense foliage and humid air made it an ideal spot for birdwatching, but it also attracted gnats. Thankfully, I had come prepared with long sleeves and pants, while Bhavna relied on bug spray. Unfortunately, neither of us had thought to bring a head net, and the gnats were relentless.

As we [...]

https://islandinthenet.com/little-blue-heron/

Glossy Ibis

In addition to the Great Egrets and White Ibis, I also spotted Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) at the Ocean City Welcome & Information Center, although these were fewer in number. Glossy Ibis are similar in size to White Ibis, with a length of about 55 to 65 centimetres and a wingspan of around 90 to 105 centimetres. They feed on insects, crustaceans, and small fish, foraging in shallow waters.

Glossy Ibis have a striking appearance with their dark, glossy feathers that shine with hints [...]

https://islandinthenet.com/glossy-ibis/

White Ibis

The Ocean City Welcome & Information Center is located on a salt marsh island surrounded by trees and shrubs along the Route 52 Causeway, just off the Garden State Parkway at Exit 30 southbound, on the Stainton Memorial Causeway (better known as the Ninth Street Bridge). The parking area offers elevated views of an astonishing assortment of beautiful birds so near that one does not need binoculars to find them. The Welcome Center offers free pamphlets that will help novices identify what [...]

https://islandinthenet.com/white-ibis/

Great Egrets at The Rookery at Roy Gillian Welcome Center

I remember that when I called the Cape May Bird Observatory in April to ask about Warblers, the person on the phone mentioned that “The Rookery” was a great place for bird photography. I planned an early morning drive to the Roy Gillian Welcome Center, which is about a 90-minute drive from my home. Because my blood glucose can be unpredictable in the early morning, Bhavna didn’t want me to drive that distance alone, so she insisted on coming along.

We set off together, listening to [...]

https://islandinthenet.com/the-rookery-at-roy-gillian-welcome-center/

There’s a lot of big, blousy tulips out there now, but give me the gentle Forget me Not any day.

#flowers #spring #streatham #london #TheRookery