Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin

It's that time of year again. We had an incredibly warm February, which accelerated the blossom formation. Then there was snow and frigid cold in early March, which damaged a lot of the flowers before they could pop open. After the park service adjusted the peak bloom prediction for the warmth, and then again for the cold, peak bloom finally arrived this week. I had an event downtown in the evening and was able to squeeze a visit in. Between the time crunch and gathering clouds, I didn't have a lot to work with. I favor my Nikon 85mm f1.8 lens for this subject, and that's the only lens I brought. Given the changing light conditions with the clouds and walking in and out of shade and changing the direction in which I was shooting, I was constantly on the aperture wheel to adjust the exposure. I was selective in my shot selection, came back with only about 50 photos, and had a lot of fun with it. As I've gotten more experience with photography, I like to think that each year I get a little better with this subject. Now sometimes the conditions don't cooperate (last year I shot in drizzle), but as I compare my work from previous years, I definitely like the progression in each sequence. Here we go...

Lincoln Memorial under Gathering Clouds

Cherry Blossom Close-Up

Another Close-Up Shot

Brief Rays of Sun on the Tree

In Full Bloom along the Tidal Basin

Dramatic Skies Contrasting with Blossoms

Just a Bit of Fleeting Blue Sky

With the Old Post Office (aka the Trump Hotel) in the Background

The Jefferson Memorial across the Basin

One More Sunny Shot before the Sun Disappeared for the Day

OBNWR Menagerie

February was exceptionally warm in Northern Virginia; March has been cold with a snowstorm. I've made several mostly unproductive trips to the wildlife refuge, but I did manage to get a few keepers. The eagles have been elusive, with many sightings, mostly too far away or obstructed by trees. Here's a typical obstructed shot.

Bald Eagle Taking Flight

The woodpeckers are plentiful, but difficult to photograph because they too are usually obstructed for the brief periods when they're still.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

 There are several spots where tidal swamp land drains into the bay. These areas dry out at low tide. I reached one of the drains and surprised myself and this deer.

Deer Staring At Me

The ospreys are returning, and they were actively fishing while I was there.

Osprey Strikes the Water

Osprey Gets a Big Fish

Osprey Stares At Me

It wasn't a complete eagle washout. This one probably thought I was harassing it because it kept landing in trees near the water, then would fly away as I approached, only to land near the water again and I would approach it again... Here's a shot where I was able to get very close before it spotted me and flew away.

Eagle Death Glare

Observing Me During a Flyover

Taking Flight

Cooperative Heron

During my many visits to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I've frequently seen Great Blue Herons. These large birds are usually quite shy, unwilling to sit still when I approach along the path. And I find them boring, so I rarely photograph them. But today, this one was sitting in a tree and surprisingly just stayed there as I got closer. In this very unusual encounter, I was able to get very close, allowing a series of remarkable photos. Here we go...

Standing on One Foot

 It's common to see birds standing on only one leg. I presume it allows them to draw one leg into their feathers to stay warmer. It was pretty cold on the morning when I made these photos.

One Big Eye

What's That On Your Beak?

Is This Bird Bald?

Staring At Me