The Birds of Four Beaches
By Barbara Vietzke
Living at Four Beaches affords us many opportunities to enjoy nature’s beauty by land, sea and air. While I am not an experienced birder, I gladly photograph our shore fowl whenever I have a chance. Each outing can bring a new photography challenge, with wading birds emerging from the marshes to feed at low tide, small birds flitting across our porches and lawns from dawn to dusk, and larger hawks and osprey scavenging for their prey.
Oystercatcher
I frequently head to the Bradford Marsh Estuary to the right side of Building 2 at low tide to check for Egrets, Herons and maybe even an Oystercatcher or some little Sanderlings.
The thrill of a new bird sighting captured closeup with my mirrorless camera takes me to a place of peace and fascination.
Egrets communicate in a. language all their own, while sometimes seemingly dancing in the air!
Egrets
Herons teach me patience as they await the perfect moment to catch a fish.
Blue Heron
Tiny shorebirds sometimes gather in groups along the water’s edge.
Sanderlings
Willet
Every once in a while, I can spot a beautiful Willet flying in to feed, or a Lesser Yellowlegs nodding up and down when aware of my distant presence.
Lesser Yellowlegs
Then there are our small birds, chirping in the trees, settling briefly on our porches, and foraging for food. I love the exquisite coloring of the House Finches and the male and female Cardinals.
House Finch
House Finch
Cardinal
Cardinal
Sparrow
Sparrows are abundant and lovely to watch feeding their young, hopping joyfully, and sometimes interacting with their mates.
Sparrow
Sparrow
Sparrow
Mockingbird
One of our most vocal inhabitants is the Mockingbird; she frequently imitates the songs of other birds and is strongly territorial, even attacking her own reflection in a window.
I was fortunate enough to see a tiny Hummingbird lighting near a petunia plant on our boardwalk. Although so quick an image is often poor, she reminded me that beauty is everywhere if only we open our eyes!
Hummingbird
Flying overhead, the Osprey, with its amazing wingspan, hovers over a fish near the surface.
Osprey
Red Shouldered Hawk
Sometimes we hear the shrill scream of the Red Shouldered Hawk dropping down to capture snakes and frogs.
Blue Heron
We are blessed with such a variety of wildlife. Hopefully we will continue to preserve and protect our beautiful marshes and shoreline. What a wonderful place to live! Enjoy!