Happy New Year From…

The new year has already started off rather well. In the past, I’ve mentioned wanting to see the no-longer endangered Delmarva Fox Squirrel. Several times, I’ve taken trips to the Eastern Shore of Maryland in hopes of catching sight of the little bugger. We had only just arrived and I got out of the car to take some pictures of some Mallard Ducks when I caught something out of the corner of my eye. What should be running up to me but the biggest squirrel I’ve ever seen. It looks a lot like a heavy-set Gray Squirrel in photos, but I assure you when you see it you know it’s different. It weighs about three pounds, that’s three times heavier than a gray squirrel. After pausing to let me get a better photo than I could have hoped, it darted across the road.

Besides the squirrel, we saw some pelicans.

We were driving along and my sister pointed out two lumps in the middle of the water and asked if I thought they were anything. I suggested logs.

Her eyes are apparently better than mine.

While I was taking picture of some geese and swans, a Great Blue Heron flew into the picture.

Then a Turkey Vulture nearly flew into me.

Really, this thing was close. Or at least if felt as if it was. They are among the largest birds around here with a wingspan that can be up to six feet. Then I looked up.

Maybe it’s me, but I think they’re cute.

Then, we saw a bunch of cars pulled over and everyone was taking pictures. It wasn’t too hard to find the locus of their attention.

A big bird in a small tree. As I was taking pictures of this Bald Eagle, another landed on the tree.

They are always quite a sight.

And just before we left, we saw one more Great Blue Heron.

Happy New Year!