Wild Delmarva

It is seal season on the Delmarva Peninsula now and while we don’t see many seals some do stop on our beaches this time of year. This Harbor Seal may have been injured or just in need of a rest. Suzanne Thurman and the marine mammal rescue folks at MERR Institute are keeping an eye on in case it needs help. Two other seals have been rescued already this year and are getting medical help.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

We’re having another weather event on the Delmarva Peninsula today. Officially in upstate Delaware and Maryland this year has seen the most snowfall on record. Today in Lewes, Delaware it is raining but will likely turn to snow later today. This male and female Northern Cardinal found a comfortable perch fittingly on a snow fence.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

The toughest part of wildlife photography is usually getting close enough to get dramatic images. But not yesterday when this little Carolina Wren flew inside my car through an open door while I was outside shooting snow photographs. My friend Tony Pratt shot this photograph and we let the little bird go on its way.

Photograph by Tony Pratt

A pair of Northern Pintail take off from one of Delmarva’s wetlands. We had more than a foot of snow this weekend but I’m sick in bed with a fever and chills. So, sadly I missed one of our best snow storms in years.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

I used to think Canada Geese were large birds but when you see one next to a super-sized Mute Swan they don’t seem so big.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

Strong sun and warmer temperatures yesterday made life on Delmarva a little easier for wading birds like this Great Blue Heron that was fishing along the frozen edge of a river.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

These little Black-capped Chickadees are a challenge to photograph in flight. They flit around in unpredictable movements and they are very small. It was a bright morning so I was able to use a very fast shutter speed of 1/6,000th of a second to stop the motion of this little guy coming in for a landing.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

Yesterday near sunset I found a snowy field full of Snow Geese trying to forage for whatever they could find to eat. Single geese like this one moved around trying to find better spots. The winter wheat was covered by several inches of snow so there wasn’t much to eat and. Some ate what soy bean stalks they could find.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

A female Northern Cardinal extends full flaps and her landing gear as she comes in for a touchdown. Several inches of snow last weekend made feeding and life difficult for wildlife on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming