I'm an early riser, even on weekends. I felt like trying again to photograph some eagles, so I arrived at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge just before the automatic gate opened at 7AM. I had the place to myself, except for the bugs.
I wandered to the shore and almost immediately saw this osprey, hovering in the wind while hunting.
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| Hunting Osprey |
It stayed nearly stationary, looking for fish. Here's a series of shots of the same bird.
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| Hunting Osprey |
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| Hunting Osprey |
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| Hunting Osprey |
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| Hunting Osprey |
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| Soaring Osprey |
The light was from a bad angle for most of these shots, but I think I got some decent ones. I did see an osprey suddenly dive, submerge, and emerge from the water with a fish. But I wasn't ready with the camera and by the time I got it ready, my view was obscured by trees as the bird flew away.
I proceeded to the spot where I can usually see eagles in or near a nest. Nothing. No juveniles, no adults. I think the juveniles are probably gone by now but the park management hasn't taken the barricades down yet. I headed back the way I came to try my luck farther down the shore road. Along the way, I passed a dirt mound and spotted this kit.
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| Kit Fox |
I stopped to get a few shots, only to see more of them. They were playing/fighting and making noises that I'd never heard before, not barking, not growling.
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| They've Spotted Me! |
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| They're Stalking Each Other |
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| Two Kits Watch their Littermate Exploring the Grass |
After leaving the foxes I walked the shore road, but saw nothing worth shooting.
I did see some birds that could have been eagles, but they were so far away, soaring, that I couldn't tell. So, it was a disappointing day for eagles, but at least I got the osprey and fox shots.
