RTY Photography Blog

As soon as I arrived in Bar Harbor I set out to look for the Barred Owl pair that I have been following for the last several years. Luckily, they used the same nest as previous years, the hollow of a dead tree. On my first few visits I only saw one owlet peeking out for short periods of time. I heard there were two, but wasn’t sure if I was seeing the same one or two different owlets. On my third visit, I was able to see both owlets poking their heads out of the hole. A few days latter, the second owlet branched and was very active. I watched as it tried to jump from one branch to another. It did not quite make it, but instead floated to a solf crash landing in a pile of leaves. The little one flapped it’s wings and cleaned off the leaves then hopped up the side of the mountain where I assume the adult was waiting. The owlets will probaly not make their way back down for a few weeks until they are bigger and stronger.

Youngest Owlet

After the unsuccessful leap.

It’s been some time since my last post, so I’m skipping ahead a few months. I had the opportunity to accompany my good friend and wildlife photographer, Harry Collins, on a trip to Canada to scout out his future workshop. We landed in Seattle and worked our way up through British Columbia to Alberta and the Calgary area. We flew six hours, drove another eleven hours, and walked about 40 miles during the week. Needless to say, we had a blast. I finally got the chance to photograph a Great Gray Owl; we encountered several up in Alberta. We also made contact with hundreds of Bald Eagles, Snowy Owls, Moose, Short-eared Owls, Otters, Ducks, Harriers, and Coyotes. Thanks to Harry for some awesome research, I will remember the beauty of the Canadian Rockies forever. Click Harry’s name above to check out his future workshops.

Some shots from my last two visits to Bass Light before heading back to the Jersey Shore.

It’s been two months since I’ve seen any of the Barred Owl family that I follow here in Acadia Park. I searched many times with no success. But on this day, I had some luck and was able to locate one of the four owlets. I watched it stalk a small red squirrel up and down several trees. The squirrel was dangerously curious and approached the owlet several times. The first photo shows the squirrel a couple of feet away from the owlet. Either the owlet was not hungry or confused because it eventually let the squirrel go on it’s way. Since this day, I have heard the owls but have not seen them again. Hopefully they will give me the pleasure of seeing them one more time before I head back to the Jersey shore at the end of October.

I’m posting the second group of Common Loon shots. This pair has been confronting visiting loons all summer. The nesting pair are extremely territorial and will not put up with any visiting loons on their lake. There have been many standoffs and underwater battles. It seems the female does most of the reconnoissance missions to the north end of the lake and the male has been staying with the chicks. So far the resident pair have convinced all the visitors to move on. At the time of this post, the chicks are eleven weeks old and doing well.

Crayfish on the menu.

Adult female on a recon mission.

Female returns.

Dad on right, has a standoff with a visitor.

Just some shots of the resident female Ruby-throated Hummingbird out back. She is friendly and allows me to get very close. I love when she flies over and hovers near my face. The little lady fiercely defends her territory and does not tolerate other hummingbirds.

Belted Kingfishers are one of the most elusive birds to photograph. But, thanks to my friend Ed, who has graciously allowed me access to his beautiful property, it is sometimes possible. A stream runs along the edge of his property and the Kingfishers love to fish in it towards the end of summer. I have spent endless hours in the blinds that he set up. Some days I come up empty; some days I’m rewarded. But, either way, it is always a peaceful day. 

They hear my camera shutter.

My Porcupine Friend

That’s me … obviously a slow day.

Well, now we come to my favorites. I guess most of you already know that I love loons and how much I look forward to following the several pairs on Mount Desert Island and in Acadia National Park. Several pairs mated and produced chicks this spring; however, only 3 chicks survive as of this date. One pair has two and the other one.  As bad as that sounds, some years there are none that make it. These three are doing well, but there is still a long way to go until they can fledge. I have been busy photographing them from my kayak since June when the adults started sitting on their eggs. The one pair I follow nested on a man-made floating platform this year. Last year they lost their eggs to a mink days before they were due to hatch. This nest provides some added protection against predators.  OK … get ready for mucho loon pics. I will slip in others posts along the way.

Man-made Nest Platform

Two Eggs

Just a few hours old, the other chick is under her wing.

Chicks ride on the backs of the adults.

Dad

17 Days Old

Mom

Sometimes cool stuff happens in nature. This owlet decided to drop down on the boards directly in front of me. It surprised the heck out of me. The owlet jumped in the grass after something, but missed. Then it jumped back up on the boards and stayed there for a short time. I had a brief conversation with it, and then had to move back in order to photograph it with my long lens. A few minutes later this little guy grabbed a mouse. I was glad to see they were hunting on their own already.

“Any mice in that camera bag”

Successful hunt.

Adult preparing for the hunt.

After two cancellations due to bad weather, I was finally able to make it out to Machias Seal Island off the coast of Maine. This year, I joined my friend, Harry Collins, for his puffin workshop. It’s a two hour car ride from Bar Harbor and an hour boat ride out to the island. The weather was great and the seas were calm. Machias is protected and only about 15 people are allowed on the island at once. Everyone is escorted to the blinds and you have about an hour to photograph the puffins. It’s always very special to see these incredible birds up close. Check out all of Harry’s workshops at this link. #savetheirhabitat

Razorbills and a Puffin