Breakfast In the Salt Marsh

When the tide is just right and the minnows in the water are plentiful, wading birds gather in the salt marsh in search of food. White Ibis, Egrets, Herons, and Wood Storks can often be seen feeding side by side in the marsh.

This morning my husband got my attention to show me a long line of white birds lined up on the railing of our neighbor’s dock. By the time I got my camera ready many of the birds had flown down into the marsh but there were still a few white ibis and great egrets surveying the area before diving in to eat.

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White Ibis searching for breakfast in the salt marsh
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Great Egret
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White Ibis
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Great Egret

It’s always entertaining to watch the white ibis as they feed. Usually there is a large group of them poking their long beaks under the water to capture fish. Suddenly, all of them will start wading through the water in the same direction in search of more food. They don’t stay long in any one place. Eventually, they tire of the area and fly off in search of better fishing grounds.

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Ibis dining in the salt marsh
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White Ibis dining in the salt marsh

I never know when I’m going to stumble across flocks of birds in the marsh but it’s always a treat when I see them. I was lucky to see them this morning and was glad to have my camera nearby.

 

Oatland Island Wildlife Center

Located near downtown Savannah, The Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah is a wonderful place to view animals native to Georgia.  Sadly, the center is currently closed after a tornado tore through the center in July, 2018.  All of the animals were safe but many of the structures sustained damage.

When the center is open, there are many educational programs for students. For more information about the center please visit their website.

A few years ago we took our two oldest grandkids to Oatland Island to see the animals. It was such a great day we returned for a second visit a couple of months later.

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Red-tailed Hawk

 

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Red Fox
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Broad-Headed Skink
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Gray Wolf
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Alligator
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Cougar
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Gopher Tortoise

Inspired by Ingrid’s Wandering Wednesday – Zoo

Bald Eagles of Alaska

Five years ago we were wandering around Alaska in our RV. As we traveled I was always on the lookout for wildlife and we saw plenty of it.

Along with the many land and sea animals, I enjoyed seeing the birds. The Bald Eagles were my favorite and there were more Bald Eagles than I’ve ever seen anywhere else. We saw them perched in trees, soaring overhead, and even in a nest in front of the Homer Post office.  The most unusual sighting was seeing one fly right beside the truck as we drove along the Homer Spit. I was so busy watching him keep up with us that I didn’t get a chance to take his picture!

He was looking at me
Bald Eagle on Ninilchik Beach
Bald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AK
Bald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AK
Bald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AK
Bald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AK
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Bald Eagle in the Lynn Canal between Haines and Juneau
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Bald Eagle in tree beside Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal
Mama and Baby Eagles across from Homer Post Office
Mama and Baby Eagles in Homer
Eagle soaring over bluff at Russian Orthadox Church
Eagle soaring over bluff at Russian Orthadox Church in Ninilchik
Pair of Eagles
We spotted this pair of Bald Eagles as we cruised by on a wildlife and glacier cruise from Valdez

Inspired by Ingrid’s Wandering Wednesday photo prompt – birds

Favorite Alaska and Canada Wildlife Photos

Five years ago this week we were on the road to Alaska from Georgia. Once we crossed the border into Canada, I spent every day looking for wildlife. There were many “WOW” wildlife sightings in both Canada and Alaska.

I’ve been thinking about posting some of my favorite wildlife photos from the trip and today I finally got the boost I needed to put it all together. When my friend Ingrid at Live, Laugh RV posted that the theme for her very first Wednesday photo inspiration was wildlife, I immediately started going though the thousands of photos from the trip.

If you would like to participate or see other posts inspired by Ingrid, click on over to Ingrid’s post Wandering Wednesday.

Here are just a few of my favorite wildlife photos from our Canada and Alaska adventure.

Elk in loop 63
Elk near our campsite in Jasper National Park, Alberta
Bear in British Columbia
Soon after entering British Columbia we were in Mount Robson Park and saw this grizzly beside the road
Black Bear eating Dandelions
Bear in British Columbia
A small herd with calves
Bison herd with calves near Liard River Hotsprings in British Columbia
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Moose in Denali National Park, Alaska
Black Bear Cub
Black Bear Cub in Valdez, Alaska
Stellar Sea Lions on day trip to Juneau
Stellar Sea Lions on wildlife cruise from Haines to Juneau, Alaska
Whale Tail
Humpback Whale on wildlife cruise from Haines to Juneau, Alaska
Two Sea Otters Valdez
Sea Otters on Columbia Glacier cruise from Valdez, Alaska
Pod of Orcas with calf
Pod of Orcas with calf on Columbia Glacier cruise from Valdez, Alaska
He was looking at me
Eagle at Deep Creek Beach, Alaska
Pair of Eagles
Pair of Eagles on Columbia Glacier Cruise from Valdez, Alaska
Puffins
Puffins on the Columbia Glacier Cruise from Valdez, Alaska

 

 

 

Five Years of My Favorite Photos

During the five years I’ve been blogging I’ve posted hundreds of photos. Here are just a few of my all-time favorites .

Pair of Orcas on Columbia Glacier tour from Valdez
A pair of Orcas on Columbia Glacier tour from Valdez, Alaska
Black Bear eating Dandelions
Black Bear beside the road in British Columbia
Bull Elk Bugling in Cataloochee Valley
Bull Elk Bugling in Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC
Bald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AK
Bald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AK
Whooping Crane
Whooping Crane near Goose Island State Park, Texas
Trio of Roseate Spoonbills
Trio of Roseate Spoonbills, Texas
Great Egret with chicks
Great Egret with chicks, Georgia
Vibrant Monarch Butterfly
Vibrant Monarch Butterfly, Georgia
We went really close to Mt. McKinley
Denali, formerly known as Mt. McKinley, as seen from the air, Alaska
Watching for whales in Haines, Alaska
Watching for whales in Haines, Alaska
Polychrome Overlook, Denali National Park, Alaska
Polychrome Overlook, Denali National Park, Alaska
Calving on Aialik Glacier
Ice calving on Aialik Glacier on the Kenai Fjords trip from Seward, Alaska
Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia
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Dry Falls in the Nantahala National Forest near Highlands, NC
Tybee Island Light Station 4th of July American Flag
Tybee Island Light Station 4th of July, Georgia
The beach at sunset
Sunset at Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida
Double Rainbow after a summer storm
Double Rainbow after a summer storm, my back yard, Georgia