Wild Delmarva

Here’s a fabulous bird with an identity crisis. Once known as Louisiana Heron this very blue bird is now called a Tricolored Heron. They are actually more blue than a Great Blue Heron but that name was already taken.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

You may be familiar with the Cattle Egret from watching nature films of African wildlife. They are the white birds that catch the insects swarmng around the rhinos and other large animals. They made their way naturally from Africa to South America and have extended their range to North America.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

It is courtship season for the Forster’s Tern now and the males bring fish gifts to win the heart of their prospective mate.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

A warm-weather visitor to Delmarva, the Glossy Ibis is thought to have immigrated naturally to South America from Africa in the 19th century and they spread to North America. In the right light it is easy to see why they are named glossy.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

A Great Egret watches a Glossy Ibis come in for a landing yesterday. In most light Glossy Ibis appear very dark, almost black. But if front lit their iridescent and warm brown feathers reflect their true colors.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

What do Canada Goose goslings have to to talk about? The price of corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade? Winter wheat options? These two were chatting it up this morning just after sunrise on a Delmarva salt marsh.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

Over the past month many of the warm-weather visitors to Delmarva have been returning. Great Egrets (above) and many of the wading birds are here now and will stay along our shores until autumn.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

If you have been fortunate enough to hear the “who cooks for you…” Barred Owl hooting you probably won’t forget their distinctive call. If you are a small mammal like a mouse or a rabbit or if you are a nesting bird you would be fortunate not to hear their call.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming

Most of the year Lesser Yellowlegs quietly go about their business of looking for food along Delmarva’s shallows. But, during mating season, their behavior becomes aggressive. This time of year, when two or more of them get too close, a quick scuffle is quite common.

Photograph by Kevin Fleming