Wild Delmarva

It snowed yesterday on Delmarva for just the third time this winter and it was a beautiful but cold day. I found this very colorful Northern Cardinal perched along the edge of a woods doing its best to keep warm.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

This would have been a rare – if not impossible – sight on the Delmarva Peninsula before 1940. That’s when a small number of House Finches were released on Long Island, New York and they have been breeding and spreading across almost all of the eastern United States ever since. Now scientists estimate their population may be as high as 1.4 billion.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

Three Canada Geese paddle as fast as they can to get out of the way of a Mute Swan as it takes off. At more than 20 pounds Mute Swan are twice the weight of Canada Geese. Oddly named, these super-sized birds have a loud, clear “kloorrr” call that sounds similar to Tundra Swan.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

Today’s weather forecast is calling for up to four inches of snow tonight and tomorrow but this morning just before sunrise the snow was already flying. Snow Geese, that is. The sun hadn’t broken the horizon yet but was lighting the low clouds when this flock started inland for a day of feeding on farm fields.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

I watched this Lesser Yellowlegs stand patiently in some very shallow moving water today waiting for a fish to swim by. After almost an hour this little Mummichog came by and the patient bird had its dinner.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

Snow Geese dot the sunrise sky this morning over the Delaware Bay. Rafts of tens of thousands of geese spent the night on the bay and headed inland to feed with the first light.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

Ring-billed Gulls were squabbling recently.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

The calendar still says January but warmer weather this weekend brought the first signs of spring mating behavior I’ve seen this year. Northern Pintails were feeding in shallow wetlands and many of the drakes were raising themselves out of the water, stretching out their wings and arching their necks in a show for the females.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

Only Two Spots Left…!

Come to Rehoboth Beach on February 6th for a great day of photography. Starting at 9:00 a.m. you will learn how I photograph portraits, landscapes, action and aerials. We’ll discuss lens settings, shutter speeds and how to use your camera correctly.

I’ll do a presentation of my Heart of America and Wild Delaware book photographs.

After a lunch break at the Big Fish restaurant you will spend several hours learning how to do Photoshop the right way. My assistant Autumn and I will share our Photoshop secrets we use to make images look their best.

Price of the all-day seminar is just $150 (lunch not included) and you will receive an autographed copy of The Heart of America and Wild Delaware (a $100 value).

This seminar is for photographers with some experience who want to improve their skills. To get the most from this class you should be using a digital DSLR camera (not a point and shoot). Class size will be limited to 20.

To register call 800-291-7600 (11:00 a.m – 6:00 p.m.) or email Autumn@dmv.com

Come spend a day at the beach and you will be a better photographer!

I was really close to a bunch of Northern Pintail yesterday morning at sunrise. Too close (maybe) in this case as this handsome drake filled the frame when he took off. The ducks were coming and going as they were feeding in the shallow – finally not frozen – brackish wetlands.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming