Wild Delmarva

Dawn was very colorful and these gulls kept me company as the sun inched toward the horizon.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

There were plenty of clouds yesterday at sunrise but just as these Snow Geese took off the sun broke through lighting this flock.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

Two days ago I found a huge raft of what was estimated to be 20,000 Snow Geese. And the sun was about to set so there would be good light. Since Snow Geese tend to all take off at the same time I thought I had found a good photograph. But on this night they took off in small groups and then the sun set. It was not to be…

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

After the sun had set tonight this flock of Snow Geese headed from a winter wheat field toward their roost on the Delaware Bay. In recent years Snow Geese usually roosted on protected wetlands but this year they frequently overnight on the open Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean waters.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

With cloudy, dark and rainy days on Delmarva this weekend and no light for photography I decided to revisit a warmer, more colorful salt marsh from last July. My super talented photoshop assistant Autumn processed this Crimson-eyed Rosemallow photograph for Wild Delmarva. I hope these blooms remind you of warmer days ahead.

Here’s the legend from last July:

Crimson-eyed Rosemallow is in full bloom now along Delmarva’s wetlands and the large, showy flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds and bees. This perennial hibiscus grows as tall as seven feet and is common across Delmarva.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

There wasn’t much light this morning over a Delmarva salt marsh as the sun rose into the haze and then slipped behind thick, gray clouds. Wildlife was even more scarce as the wetlands were frozen and the geese and ducks had found refuge elsewhere. But just as the sunrise slipped into the clouds I found this Great Blue heron watching the day turn gray.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

Two Northern Pintails go chest to chest as they get into a bit of a squabble over a feeding area.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

The Bald Eagles were very cooperative today. This one seemed happy to pose for an up-close portrait.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

There is a brand “Eagle Claw Fish Hooks” that I used to use as a child. Watching this Bald Eagle swoop down and catch this fish this morning it is easy to see how well named those fish hooks are.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

Sunrise today was beautiful with the early light reflected on a sheet of ice.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming