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Looking Up for Wood Ducks

A spring morning search for Wood Ducks in Princeton’s Institute Woods turns into a lesson about looking up—and knowing your lens limits.

https://islandinthenet.com/wood-duck/

A pair of Wood Ducks perched on a mossy tree branch, framed by spring foliage and crisscrossing limbs under a clear blue sky.

Two male Wood Ducks resting on low branches above a marsh, surrounded by tall green and dry reeds in early spring growth.

Two male Wood Ducks floating among green lily pads in a still pond, backed by golden cattails catching the evening light.

Alone on the Flats

A distant Black-bellied Plover stood alone on a shimmering mudflat, its quiet presence captured in a soft, spacious frame.

https://islandinthenet.com/black-bellied-plove/

Black-bellied Plover standing alone on a muddy tidal flat surrounded by marsh grasses in early spring light.

Side view of a Black-bellied Plover walking slowly along a waterlogged mudflat at the edge of a saltmarsh.

Solo Northern Gannet Flight Over the Inlet

single Northern Gannet glided silently over the inlet, just before the Osprey boat turned back.

https://islandinthenet.com/northern-gannet/

Northern Gannet in flight against a blue sky, wings slightly upturned and neck extended forward in a glide posture near Cape May Inlet.

Northern Gannet banking mid-air with wings curved upward, showing black wingtips and streamlined body over open water and sky backdrop.

Warbling Vireo. Prints and digital licensing are available.
https://zunaidkhanphotography.picfair.com/images/022618107-warbling-vireo
#birds #springmigration #spring #picfair #prints #printsforsale #photoprints #birdphotography #naturefirstphotography #canada

Warbling Vireo bird perched on a tree branch.

American Oystercatcher

Two American Oystercatchers stood motionless on the jetty at Cape May Inlet—each on one leg, silent and still.

https://islandinthenet.com/american-oystercatcher/

Two American Oystercatchers standing on coastal rocks facing each other, showing bold black-and-white plumage and bright orange-red bills, with calm sea in the background.

Marsh Gulls

Three gulls, three very different personalities.

https://islandinthenet.com/marsh-gulls/

American Herring Gull in flight over coastal marsh with wings outstretched under a cloudy blue sky near Cape May

Laughing Gull in breeding plumage standing alert among coastal reeds.

Great Black-backed Gull resting in salt marsh grass near coastal water.

Saltmarsh Shadows

While drifting through the final bends of the saltmarsh aboard the Osprey, I spotted a group of five Boat-tailed Grackles moving low through the reeds near the mouth of Jarvis Sound.

https://islandinthenet.com/calling-out-lifting-off/

Boat-tailed Grackles mid-flight with wings spread low over grassy reeds.

Boat-tailed Grackle standing alert in dense marsh grass near Jarvis Sound, with glossy iridescent plumage and long tail visible.

Palm Warbler in Wetland. Prints and digital licensing are available.
https://zunaidkhanphotography.picfair.com/images/019293133-warbler-in-wetland
#birds #birdphotography #picfair #prints #photoprints #printsforsale #fineartprints #naturefirstphotography #palmwarbler #warblers #wetlands #canada #toronto #spring #springmigration

A palm warbler bird perched on a branch of the Red Osier Dogwood plant in a wetland.

Forster’s Tern Over Cape May Harbour

While scanning the skies above Cape May Harbour, I spotted a slender tern gliding past the boat. At first, I wasn’t sure which species I’d photographed—Caspian, Common, or Forster’s? Back at home, subtle field marks confirmed it was Forster’s Tern in breeding plumage. A life bird. One that taught me to look closer.

https://islandinthenet.com/forsters-tern-sterna-forsteri/

Forster’s Tern in flight with deeply forked tail extended beyond wingtips, black cap, and black-tipped orange bill visible against grey sky over Cape May Harbour.

Side view of a Forster’s Tern gliding above the water, showing sleek body, black head, and distinctive black-tipped orange bill.

Forster’s Tern banking mid-air over Cape May Harbour, wings swept forward and tail streamers trailing, photographed from below.

Perched Black-throated Warbler. Prints and digital licensing are available.
https://zunaidkhanphotography.picfair.com/images/019293094-perched-warbler
#birds #warblers #spring #springmigration #blackthroatedwarbler #canada #toronto #birdphotography #picfair #prints #photoprints

Black-throated warbler bird perched on a tree branch.

Working the Dock

At the marina’s edge, the Ruddy Turnstones scurried along the green planks like tiny dockside inspectors.

https://islandinthenet.com/ruddy-turnstones-on-the-pier/

Buffleheads in Motion

My first sighting of Bufflehead during a boat tour in Cape May felt like trying to photograph wind over water. They moved fast, flew low, and never stopped.

https://islandinthenet.com/buffleheads-in-motion/

Flock of Bufflehead ducks flying low over Cape May Harbour with wings spread above calm water

Three Bufflehead ducks in tight formation flight over rippled bay water near coastal shoreline structures

The Cormorants of Cape May

During a boat tour through the Cape May saltmarsh, I observed Double-crested Cormorants at rest, in flight, and in that transitional space between water and sky.

https://islandinthenet.com/the-cormorants-of-cape-may/

Double-crested Cormorant perched on a rock in Cape May saltmarsh, facing left in soft light

Group of Double-crested Cormorants resting and preparing for takeoff on jetty rocks in Cape May Harbour

Flock of cormorants taking flight across Cape May Harbour with extended wings.

Double-crested Cormorant pushing off from wooden piling with wings extended wide

Cape May Island Birding by Boat

A spring morning on the saltmarsh, quiet but alive. I joined a small group aboard *The Osprey* for a birding cruise around Cape May Island, camera in hand and eyes open for coastal migrants. It began with a twig and a watchful Osprey, and became a slow, quiet journey into the rhythm of observation.

https://islandinthenet.com/cape-island/

Female osprey perched on nest platform with blurred marshland in background

Male osprey flying with large twig in talons toward nest with waiting mate

Male osprey descending with twig as female waits on the nest platform

A nesting pair of Ospreys marked the start of a quiet birding trip by boat around Cape May Island. Salt air, good light, and 29 species logged.

#birding #CapeMay #springmigration
#Birds #USBirds #Osprey #CapeMayIsland #NewJersey

https://islandinthenet.com/cape-island/

A Northern House Wren sits atop one of our birdhouses beside a farm field in #Ontario. Out of our 10 birdhouses along this quiet dirt road, 6 now have birds in residence. #birding #birds #nature #springmigration #birdphotography

Not the warmest weather today, but just the same, the first ruby-throated hummingbird has arrived in our backyard and is enjoying the spring flowers. #birds #birding #springmigration #photography #Ontario #Canada
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You just never know what you will find in a farm field. A Dunlin pulls a worm out of the flooded field for an early morning meal. #birds #birding #nature #springmigration #Ontario #Canada

This Great Crested Flycatcher flew out of nowhere, and it landed on a twig right beside us and posed for a photo. #birds #birding #nature #springmigration #birdphotography #Ontario #Canada

Yay! 😍
The first Ruby-throated Hummingbird in the garden. He is performing his swing flight right in front of the window, claiming his territory.
#birds #SpringMigration

#springmigration

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