The male storks arrived a few months back and looks like the chirping of tiny beaks may be in prospect.

Belvoir Castle can be seen in the distance.

I watched this female red-winged blackbird gathering material to build her nest.

I usually don’t go out on cloudy days but out of frustration I did. We’re scheduled for another WEEK of rain and clouds.

I decided to visit an eagles nest about 35 minutes from me. When I arrived I was happy to see at least one eagle sitting low in the nest. A moment later it flew out and down low around the nest. I can only assume it was trying to grab a quick bite. It failed and returned to the nest. About 5 minutes later the second eagle returned. They switched positions and the original eagle took off for a break. It’s safe to assume they have at least one egg at this point,

I was surprised the pictures came out decent (I feel) considering I was approx. 75yards away. The reach on the lens with the 1.4x extender is approx. 1792mm. It was completely overcast. I feel that what little light there was must have been reflecting off the lake ( nest is right off it) helping to keep the iso at a manageable level.

(Platycercus elegans adelaidae), South Australia

This is from a friends farm where they have horses. You can see all the different color horse hairs throughout along with small sticks.

Red-necked grebe

© All rights reserved — any use, reproduction, or curation requires prior written permission via Flickr mail.

“Badavut” – A Morning at Ayvalık’s Salt Lake: Flight, Light and Silence

Badavut, part of the İda Madra Geopark on the southwestern side of the Ayvalık–Sarımsaklı Peninsula, is a remarkable area where geology, history and wildlife meet. Volcanic formations, ancient stone quarries and the famous Blue Flag beaches attract visitors throughout the year, while nature photographers are drawn by its rich birdlife and unique coastal habitats.

I arrived shortly after sunrise and spent nearly four hours exploring the area with my camera. The morning offered a few surprises. Although the Badavut Wetland is known for hosting hundreds of Greater Flamingos and many migratory bird species from spring onwards, not a single flamingo was present today. Looking back through my photographs from previous years, most of my flamingo sightings were recorded during July and August.

Across the distant shoreline, I observed six Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) feeding in the shallows. Swallows were busy with nesting activities, repeatedly crossing the wetland in small groups as they searched for food.

This visit was also a reminder that Badavut is more than a birdwatching destination. The sandy coastal plain supports a variety of wild orchids during spring. I arrived too late for the peak flowering season, but I was pleased to see that orchid colonies are now protected by fenced enclosures, helping to prevent accidental damage by visitors. Information boards also indicate that camping and picnic activities are no longer permitted in sensitive areas.

As encouraging as these conservation efforts are, it was still disappointing to see traces of plastic waste left behind from past human activity. Hopefully, continued protection and greater public awareness will help preserve this beautiful nature park for future generations.

I hope you enjoy these eight photographs from a peaceful morning of flight, light and silence at Badavut.

I've captured some unforgettable moments with my camera, and I hope these images bring you even a fraction of the joy I experienced while creating them.

Thank you for visiting my gallery — whether you leave a comment, add a favorite, or simply take a quiet moment to look around. Your presence and support truly mean a great deal to me. I wish you good luck and beautiful light in all your photographic journeys.

© All rights reserved by R. Ertuğ. Please do not use these images without my express written permission. If you are interested in purchasing or licensing any photograph, please feel free to contact me via Flickr Mail.

Tech Notes -

Camera: Nikon Z8 with Really Right Stuff Base Plate

Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S

Hand-held or used with a monopod, always with SPORT VR enabled.

Typical aperture settings: f/5.6 for close detail work and around f/8 for full-body compositions.

All images were processed from RAW and converted to JPEG.

Monopod Setup: Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod

Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head

Your comments and constructive criticism are always welcome.

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to explore. 😊

Some ladies like flowers - others prefer something different........

A mid flight capture yesterday of a Cattle Egret (in breeding flush) returning to it's perch with a freshly collected addition to the nest!!

Captured during a session at Hunter Wetlands Centre (Shortland, NSW; Australia).

Hope you like the details here.

Thanks for any comments, views or favorites -always much appreciated!!

Have a wonderful day!!

I took these photos a couple of days ago outside out house. These trees don't belong to us, but to the community. But they're right beside our house, so they're practically ours right? ;D

I just love the golden color they turn in the fall. I HAD to take a doll photo with one of these trees. I was worried about what the neighbors might think of me being stooped over INSIDE of one of these trees LOL

Notice the little fledglings in the center of the nest. It will have 2 siblings soon..

Nesting information:

NEST PLACEMENT

Nest Tree -Great Blue Herons nest mainly in trees, but will also nest on the ground, on bushes, in mangroves, and on structures such as duck blinds, channel markers, or artificial nest platforms. Males arrive at the colony and settle on nest sites; from there, they court passing females. Colonies can consist of 500 or more individual nests, with multiple nests per tree built 100 or more feet off the ground.

NEST DESCRIPTION

Male Great Blue Herons collect much of the nest material, gathering sticks from the ground and nearby shrubs and trees, and from unguarded and abandoned nests, and presenting them to the female. She weaves a platform and a saucer-shaped nest cup, lining it with pine needles, moss, reeds, dry grass, mangrove leaves, or small twigs. Nest building can take from 3 days up to 2 weeks; the finished nest can range from a simple platform measuring 20 inches across to more elaborate structures used over multiple years, reaching 4 feet across and nearly 3.5 feet deep. Ground-nesting herons use vegetation such as salt grass to form the nest.

Source: Cornell Lab of Orinthology

cattle egrets, Rip's Rookery, Jefferson Island, LA. Zoom to see an egg in the left side nest. Sony A6300 and FE70300G.

This pair of nesting razorbills was seen on the island of Lunga in the Treshnish Isles off western Scotland.

This Roseate Spoonbill was bringing back some late season nesting material this May in Florida. This one's from the first week of the long trip. I still have a good deal of sorting and editing to do before I really get down to posting from the trip. Good thing life has slowed down a lot since getting back. (Okay, yeah sometimes sarcasm doesn't really come through in print…. It may be a while. It's a good busy…mostly.)

A Mute swan with their nest. The reeds are growing and soon hide all birds nesting in the area.

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Macro Monday theme: Contained

Nesting dolls with a wildlife theme.

Nikon Z7 & 299-500 mm lens

Osprey. Santa Clara County - California.

College Park, MD

Seen at Silver, Portugal nesting on a derelict building

2021-12-26 3029-CR2-L1T1

Another one from the archives - December 2021. I just have not had the time lately to get out and take photos of these eagles lately. I thought once I got older and the kids are out of the house I would have more time.....I guess not.

My children may not have everything they want in life, but they have a Mom who loves them more than anything in the world

Life is a Rainbow - One year in colours

Brown - 46/52 weeks

Thank you everyone for your visits, faves, and kind comments❤️

Pennington Flash

a7 HP7_6956

Killdeer photographed when sitting on a nest.

This eagle flew into the nest with a fish. A few seconds later, the other eagle in the nest flew off to hunt, and this one stayed. I believe the sparrow is building or has a nest in the eagle nest.

a gift from my mother-in-law, 234/365

Looking for a nature competition entry.

Came across this shot .

Didn’t use it .

When in Victoria, I went for a walk with my 90 year old mother-in-law through Rithet's Bog. She saw the nest in the tree before I did. Then she told me that since she's gone for walks with me and my camera, she sees the world through new eyes. Made me feel good :)

A lovely nesting osprey in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

It's spring! Time for birds to build nests.

Wren collecting feathers for nesting

my tree swallows are still sitting on eggs

Birdlife near Yankee Harbour in Antarctica

American Robin sitting on her nest , out back by the Brush Pile.

Our backyard, Southeastern, Connecticut

Carr Mill Dam again. Wow, I'm really digging into the back catalogue at the moment, all the result of a house move that has put most of my picture taking on temporary hold at the moment.

N4433

Padley Gorge & Lawrence Field

A couple of parrots peeking out from their nest in a tree in a dog park in Torrevieja.