McGills Nature In Motion

Sunday May 31,2009

It’s a frosty start to the morning at 6:00 am. There are trumpeter swans starting to nest on the North & South show pools. Beavers are diligently working to refurbish their dens after a long winter.

F Pool has a trumpeter swan nesting near the start of F Pool. The ospreys are nesting on F Pool on the Fishing Route.

Sandhills are starting to move as the sun starts to warm the air over H Pool. There is a lone doe at the end of the marsh on H Pool. Ready to drop her fawn?

On G Pool there is a pair of trumpeters nesting at the north end. At the west end of E Pool there is a single loon. And a female common merganser just landed nearby.

There is a pair of loons starting to nest on D Pool. Hopefully there will be a few more successful nests this season. There is also a pair of osprey building a new nest on D Pool near the loon observatory.

Our female merlin is still around the C/B marsh area. So hopefully we will be able to catch a glimpse of the nest.

Our loons are on C Pool looking at different nesting possibilities. There is also a single loon at the farthest end of C Pool. There is a pair of Sandhills in the east end of the B marsh. And a pair of trumpeter swan hanging out at the marsh at the end of the drive.

We completed our first run at 9:30 am. Cold and windy which helps minimizing the bugs, but sunny which is fantastic.

On our second run through we took the Marshland Drive, the trumpeter swan still on nest in F Pool and Sandhills on the east end of C marsh.

We also have a trumpeter swan nesting on E Pool. And believe it or not a loon nesting nearby!

The eagle family is quiet. One of the parents are standing watch nearby from the tall pine.

While we were watching it flew over E Pool to C Pool. As we were watching a loon came near the shore from the west.

All of a sudden Michael noticed a big shadow moving overhead. A pair of trumpeters and a mature eagle flew over us to the west. The eagle landed in the top of a pine tree up the road from where we were. As we moved slowly toward it, Michael would stop so I could get a few snaps of it. Yeah! That was fun!The pair of Sandhills are still in the same area on the west end of C marsh. And Mrs. Merlin took off screeching as got close to her.

A male blue jay was trying to tempt a nearby female with is squawking and flapping. I did get a cool shot of them ‘kissing’.

The loons are on the other side of their old nesting area on C Pool, with a doe on the other side in the marshes of B Pool and a trumpeter on a nest in what was B Pool(now drained back).

As we end our second run through at 12:30 the clouds start to move in. We decide to take a lunch break.

We started our third run at 1:30 pm overcast and 50 degrees. We took the Fishing Route this time. The trumpeter swan is still on the nest on F Pool with the osprey flying around.

We can see the eagle family. One adult is in the tall tree the other one is in the nesting feeding the young a huge fish.

The osprey is still in the nest on F Pool. A lone Sandhill is the tall grasses on H Pool.

There is a trumpeter swan on a nest in the middle of J Pool with a lone loon nearby.

The trumpeter swan is still on the nest in G Pool. There is a doe on the edge of E Pool. There is also another swan nesting at the west end of E Pool.

The loon is still on the nest in D Pool with its mate nearby. There is also on osprey on the nest that they were building earlier.

There is a pair of loons on the little pool at the east end of C Pool. She is talking to him as he ‘struts’ around the pool for me. It is 58 degrees less wind but more bugs and darker clouds moving in at 4:15 pm.

We decide to make one last quick run through for the day to verify facts on the eagle and loon nests.

There is definitely two eaglets in the nest!! Yeah!! This will make for an entertaining summer as the young start demanding more from their parents(and their parents ignore them).

There is definitely a loon on a nest in E Pool and D Pool. Not sure what’s happening with the C Pool loons.

The eastern kingsbirds and redwing blackbirds are being very entertaining on this last run. And the two loons are still on the ‘little’ pool at 6:00 pm.

June 2, 2009 Started out at 6:00 am. It is 36 degrees with some cloud coverage. It did frost this morning in places.

Ground fog over the show pools . The trumpeter swan are both on their nests. There is a big red-tailed hawk near the exit from the Refuge work road on M-77.

Ring necks are still on the pool in front of the Visitors Center. Two families of Canadian Geese are on the start of F Pool. Trumpeter swan with a nest on the east end of F Pool chased an intruder away.

The loon is patrolling the east end of E pool where his mate is on a nest. There are Sandhills in the C marsh area. Stopped at the Eagle Point where the loon was patrolling. Two loons from the other end of E are patrolling. We first thought maybe our E loons but not sure because two more joined them. There was no calling or threatening like the night before. One flew off and one separated from the couple.

Another loon flew over. Male Baltimore oriole, eastern kingbirds and little warblers enjoying the morning. The eagle flew in and out of the tall pine. And we finally are hearing the Wilson snipe calling.

Eastern kingbird is building a nest on the south side of E Pool.

The D Pool loon is on the nest with the mate out in front of it. There is a family of geese in front of the loon observatory. And the osprey are both on the nest.

Male wood duck on C Pool midway. Pair of trumpeter swan but not on a nest. The loon on C Pool with an osprey flying over.

There is our doe near the ‘dead pool’ who moved across to the B marshes.  The loon is on the east end of C Pool as usual. There is also two loon on the small pool.

Started our second round at 12:30. The dragonfly hatch is on. Amazing what can change it such as short time.

The eagle is in the tall pine and the other one is soaring over E Pool with an osprey circling around. Confrontation? Not this time.

It is getting cloudier. But 65 degrees. Two trumpeter swan in the marshes west of J Pool

The trumpeter swan nesting on G Pool is fighting a poor Canadian goose family. He scattered the goslings. One parent went across the road with a couple of them but dad stayed to try to hold his ground but two of the goslings were getting in the line of fire.

There are now two loons at the northeast end of G Pool. Two sand hills at the west end of C Pool. Trumpeter swan with at least three cygnets. The  first we have seen so far on the Refuge. Hopefully they will still be here when we return in a few days.

The loon is still tending the nest on D Pool and the osprey are at their nest left of the loon observatory.

Two sand hill crane at the west end of C marsh.  Pied billed grebe on C Pool midway. The eagle is flying over C to B near the eagle observatory. I think they like to show the visitors that there really are eagles on the Refuge. J

There are two loons on the east end of C Pool and our doe is in the B marsh.

Seney Notes June 28, 2009

We were greeted by the flapping of a female wood duck’s wings and the chattering of a kingfisher in front of the Visitors Center. F Pool trumpeter swans are showing off their three cygnets. As well as, ABJ and his wife and their babies.

We took the Fishing route where a male ring neck is taking a morning dip in the little pool right  at the beginning of the drive.

We have been hearing the Wilson Snipe calling for the last two days. We finally got a good look at one on top of a dead tree at the start of H Pool.

J Pool has fifteen or more trumpeter swans. A pair of Sandhills are in the middle of the drive but fly off to an island on J pool when we approach them. Needless to say they do not have a baby.

A male wood duck flies out of a small pool at the end of H marsh where our doe is feeding just around the corner. If she has a fawn we would never be able to see it in the tall grasses.

An osprey is flying over G Pool where two kingbirds are attacking the poor thing. They have nothing to fear. Osprey only eat fish.

It’s a beautiful morning at Seney National Wildlife Refuge. There is a gentle breeze and 68 degrees at 9:00am, the birds are happily singing where ever we go.

Trumpeter swans are sunning themselves on the island in front of the loon observation deck. The osprey is perched near the nest.

The female Harrier is flying from the Refuge to the east as we end our first run at 10:00. It is 72 degrees and a simply beautiful day. Thank you, Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

There is an American Bittern in the small pool on C side passed the Fishing Route. The two eaglets are sitting on the edge of the nest without parental supervision. We spot a  porcupine waddling down the trail between E & C Pool.

There is another pair of Sandhills with a good sized baby on B marsh. Then a Merlin flew out of a dead jack pine between C& B marsh.  Yeah! We have an actual Great Blue Heron in the middle of C Pool.  It’s been awhile since we have seen one here. The first year we traveled through the Refuge six or seven years ago, there were Great Blue Herons everywhere we looked. We are always asking, why?

It cant’ get any better than that. As we end our second run through the clouds start to move in. We aren’t sure if there will be any more nice weather the rest of the weekend but we are so thankful for the time we have had.

Seney Notes 6-28, 2009 pm

Even with the gloominess there is a serenity surrounding you. You forget the gas guzzler you’re driving, the cell phone in your pocket and just immerse yourself in the nature all around you. Just breathe. Ahh!

While driving tonight I stop to consider just how fortunate we are to be in such good health. And especially what a blessing it is to have healthy eyesight. I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t express myself through my camera and share the passion we have for our Michigan wildlife.

The male ring neck is still on the small pool at the beginning of the Fishing Route. Maybe his mate is nesting? A loon is flying all around F Pool not sure where he wants to go. There is a pair of trumpeter swans with two cygnets on the northeast end of E Pool.

J pool must be the ‘singles’ pool again for the trumpeter swans. A few are in pairs and they parade around proudly in front of the ‘losers’.

Wood ducks are in the marshes at the west end of J marshes.

There is a pair of Sandhills at the west end of E between the two islands. We can’t tell if they have any young though.

My baby(a loon) is further down on  C Pool then he was earlier in the day. He looked all around when I called him.

Seney Notes June 29,2009

It’s a rainy Monday morning full many surprises as we stepped out to greet a new day. Mosquitoes!! Are they protected under any Federal law? J I hope not because we would be in big trouble otherwise. Just FYI the “Off” clip on mosquito repellent fans really do work. We have used two of them all three days attached to the visors in our vehicle. With our windows down 90% of the time, we were fairly bug free.

There were six ‘lovely’ turkey vulture on a dead tree(appropriately) on M-77 still keeping an eye on their future meal. The trumpeter swan on the south show pool are down to two cygnets.L

We stop in to catch up the news with Ryan, Karen and the other girls. It seems our white pelicans have called their family members(upwards of 30) to come up and enjoy the northern hospitality and eats. Unfortunately they can devour large quantities of fish in a relatively short time.

We finally begin our only run through for the day at 10:00. We are greeted with the screaming of loons on F Pool. ABJ is telling the two intruders not to even think about coming near his loon family. The pair of trumpeter swan still have two cygnets.

There is a pair of Sandhills with one small baby on the drive on the east end of E Pool. I tried to get a shot of the baby but the parents quickly herded it off the drive into the tall grasses. That makes at least five pair of Sandhills with six young three of which are already half grown.

As we cross the C/E spillway we spot a pied billed grebe in the channel on C side. There is mother with seven young in the reeds of C Pool. You can hear them chirping to be fed.

There is a single loon flying over the center of E Pool where the two eaglets are perched on the edge of their nest waiting for the parents to come back with food. We understand that the research team from Clemson University, Kendal & Walter, were here on June 14 to band the two eaglets here and the eaglets on C-3. Unfortunately we didn’t in contact with them in time to go along. But Ryan was able to go and take photographs. So stop by the Visitors Center and take a look. They thought that the eaglets on E Pool should be fledging at anytime now. So watch for a lot of activity along the drive as the parents start their ‘tough love’ training. The young need to be able to fend for themselves come winter. Survival rate is 50/50 that they will make it through that first winter.

There are four loons on E Pool near the swan observation deck. They started carrying on with their heads elongated skimming the surface of the water. Then one took off and circled back to fly over us to the east. Another one took off to the west. A Sandhill is on the island to the west of the swan observation deck.

Our ‘redheaded’ trumpeter swan is in the channel on C west end across from E Pool. We spotted a ruffed grouse on a pine branch along the drive. An American Bittern was flying around in the marsh on B. There is momma ringneck duckt with her nine little ones on C Pool. There are also three loon midway on C Pool doing a little aggression bobbing. We noticed five white pelicans toward the south side of what is left of B Pool.

Another American Bittern just flew across the small pool at the end of C where a lone loon had just crossed.

Another ruffed grouse is on a tree on the B side of the drive eating. They must like the rain. This is the second one today that we have seen. We also had a Great Blue Heron fly into the Refuge as we were leaving around 12:30.

Seney Notes 7-4-2009 evening

The trumpeter swan on the North Show Pool still have 3 cygnets. There is a pair of Sandhills with a half  grown chick on the South Show Pool. One of the parents is banded. We were able to get a few shots off before they went over the hill into the tall grasses.

There are three loons on F Pool NW corner doing their bobbing up and down. Where is ABJ and family?

The loon family is past the C-E spillway on E Pool. The babies are floating alone. Another loon flies over calling. As soon as one of the parents hear that they pop right back up to the surface toward their young.

There are four loons farther down on E Pool closer to the swan observation deck challenging each other. There is a single loon in a cove on E Pool not moving or reacting to the two loon taking off of E Pool.

There are two Sandhill on the island behind the loon.

A pair of trumpeter swan have four cygnets in the northeast corner of D Pool. Further down in front of loon observation deck is four loons having a little fun as the osprey flies into it’s nest.

C Pool has a couple of beavers and a muskrat near the southeast corner with a loon around the corner.

Seney Notes Sunday July 5, 2009

We thought it was going to be a clear morning so we headed out at 5:30am. It’s 45 degrees with clouds slowly building over the northwest.

The trumpeter swan on the North Show Pool still have three cygnets. The swan on South Show Pool still have two. As we start down the Refuge entrance drive we are amazed at the amount of bunny rabbits out and about. No fox or coyotes in this part of the Refuge right now otherwise…

The little songbirds are waking up making a ‘joyful noise’ but everything else is still on ‘snooze alarm’.

The eaglets are up but no parents nearby. We take the Fishing Route hoping for some action. OK, a gaggle of geese is not what we are looking for. J

 One of the osprey is in the nest waiting to be feed. Loons are flying over H to the west . Trumpeter swan have five cygnets yet. Good parenting skills. Sandhills are flying over H and land on a small island cackling as they do.
The Refuge is starting to wake up at 6:00am. J Pool is full of trumpeter swan where two loon land on J Pool screaming all the way. Further down near the end of J Pool is a pair of ring necks and two doe come bounding out of the marsh.

There is a single Sandhill on the drive at the end of H/J marsh. It of course flies away as we approach it.

An osprey is fishing over G Pool. But otherwise it is quiet, quiet, quiet except for the occasional songbirds.

There are two loons at the east end of G Pool just hanging out. An osprey is on the feeding tree at the west end of E Pool. A pair of Sanhdills are across D Pool to the west with one loon and a male wood duck near the loon observation deck.

Yeah! Finally the sun is coming out from behind the clouds. The wind is picking up which is helping to clear out the clouds. The pair of trumpeter swan have four cygnets. And there is a single loon on the small pool at the end of C Pool with an osprey in the nest.

We decide to take a quick break at the teepees on M-77 where we discover our Sandhills and chick at the edge of the park. We decide to follow them as they graze along the South Show Pool drive. I get up on the tailgate as Michael drives, stopping and  filming as he goes. We shoot them for over forty five minutes. They finally decide to turn back the way they came so we continued back to the Refuge for another run through.

The baby loons are on F Pool with one parent who decides to take off leaving the young as they float behind an island.

We take the Marshland Drive this time through. Trumpeter swan are on E Pool with two cygnets while two loon fly over E as they do our E Pool loons with young send out a challenging call.

We catch a glimpse of an American Bittern as it flies into the E side of C marsh. Mom and dad eagles must be out fishing.  The one eaglet is still out at the end of a branch where he is flopping and flapping his wings trying out their strength. Michael films them off and on for forty-five minutes.

There are two loons in front of us bobbing around. One takes off but not sure where the other one went. L

An Osprey is finding on E Pool while the eaglets went back into their nest for a siesta. That was short lived as one of the parents brings back  a meal then flew off toward C Pool.

There is a doe swimming off an island on E Pool where there is a lone loon further down.

It is clear and beautiful day at 10:30 68 degrees. There is one loon on D Pool. Two loons are midway on C Pool with a Great Blue in the grasses at the end of C Pool. An osprey is in the nest in the small pool.

We decide to eat a bit of lunch at the teepees and take another run through before clouds move back in.

So we shot a few more pics of the Sandhills and young along the South Show Pool. It is 71 degrees as 12:00pm.

The loon family is on F Pool a little ways out with the babies bouncing around trying out their diving techniques as mom and dad feed them a little brunch.

The drive is very busy now with visitors. We don’t usually go through at this time because we know the wildlife takes it easy in the heat of the day. But we had thought it was going to cloud up which happily it didn’t.

So we make a quick trip and note the few critters that are out and about. The F Pool osprey are screaming for food. One of the eagle parents snatches up a fish and takes it up to the young in the nest.

People are out fishing and picnicking on this beautiful Holiday Sunday.

J Pool is full of trumpeter swan with a doe across the Pool running through the edge of the water trying to lose some bugs. Caspian Terns are squawking around one of the islands.

A single parent Sandhill and it’s young are on the knob in the middle of G marsh. There is a mature eagle soaring over G Pool being harassed by a seagull. It takes a dive but we don’t see where it ended up.

There is also a porcupine in a tree across the pool.

The single Sandhill we saw earlier went into the west end of E marsh where a pair of trumpeter swan with their four cygnets along with a ring neck with eight babies.

As we end our drive there is a great blue on the South Show Pool and the trumpeter swan on the North Show Pool show off their three cygnets.

Seney Notes July 5, 2009 pm

We made a quick go-round at 4:00. We had thought about going to Munising but the too much traffic for my nervous to take.

It is 75 degrees, sunny but real windy. F Pool loon family was out midway amongst the islands.

Nothing  out of the ordinary. The most exciting thing was that the C Pool loon couple had settle in a cove away from the strong winds. When we stopped to take a few pictures they were sleeping. The one woke up to investigate what we were up to. I talked to him to tell him everything was alright. He just stayed close and finally went back to sleep. Sweet, we have never been able to get that close to this pair.

We came back in for our last run of the day at 7:30pm. On our way to the Refuge we spotted a female Harrier working the ditch banks along M-77 so we turned around to get a better look. She was sitting on a two track but spooked and flew off. But we got a good look at her. She was gorgeous pearl gray. I can’t wait till I can capture her photograph.

The Sandhill family was still working along the South Show Pool past the teepees. It was nice because a few people were able to get a good photo op.

We took the Fishing Route where we could see one of the adult eagles in the nest with the two eaglets. There was also a beautiful Great Blue Heron right near the shore on E Pool past the F-E spillway.

H Pool has a loon back on it. Beyond the pool in the H marsh is a Great Blue Heron in a dead tree.

J Pool baby loons and one parent are near the drive which is so not usual. We watch the parent feed them for awhile. The whole pool is full of trumpeter swan.

The sun is starting to be gobbled up by a bank of clouds at 8:45pm but amazingly it stayed out the rest of the evening. There were a number of vehicles using the drive. We caused a traffic jam while we photographed and filmed a young bear in B marsh. It was sitting on its haunches when we saw him. I managed a few shots and so did Michael before we were eaten up by the bugs. I can’t imagine what the poor bear was dealing with as he turned around and sauntered back the other way into the tall grasses.

This makes the second evening in a row that we saw bear here on the Refuge. And it makes three we have seen since last week. Sweet!!

Seney Notes July 6, 2009

We headed out to the Refuge at 7:am to mostly clear skies and 41 degrees. Yesterday we went in earlier but not ‘everyone’ was up due to clouds and cool temps. The wildlife seemed to be more active around 7:30am.

We were greeted at the teepees with a Great Blue Heron in the tall grasses on North Show Pool. We had just commented on how there used to always be Great Blues in the show pools.

On the entrance drive there was only a lone bunny rabbit. The start of F Pool had a lone male wood duck in the cattails. The ABJ loon family was gathered for breakfast in the first cove on F Pool.

The eaglets are up and the Sandhills are cackling as we start down the Fishing Route. Further down on F Pool is a pair of trumpeter swan with two cygnets along with a Great Blue Heron blending in to the backdrop of a dead tree. All of a sudden the male trumpeter took off after an intruding trumpeter. They had a little. The intruder stood his ground but didn’t go near the family of swans. In the background the  young osprey are crying to be fed.

It’s been a long time since I have been able to get a good photo of a Great Blue. This is the second day in a row that I have. Sweet!

The pair of trumpeter swan on H Pool have the largest number of surviving cygnets so far, five. Toward then edge of the pool on dead tree was  a Wilson Snipe calling for a mate. Michael and I were both able to capture some good footage of it.

At the end of H marsh our doe was wandering around trying to escape the bugs. When we got close to her she practically came up to the window of the truck. She did that last week when we filmed her. But she definitely didn’t have a fawn. We have seen a fawn with any of the deer we have seen in the past few weeks.

A pair of Sandhills were in the drive as we continued toward G Pool. They flew up and over our truck then back around to where they had been.

It is starting to rain and clouding up fast.L A male wood duck flew over us on his way t G Pool where a lone loon and trumpeter swan with four cygnets were.

A Wilson Snipe flew out of the reeds on the west end of E Pool. Further down the first cygnet to be born on the Refuge this spring were showing off for the visitors. They still have four.

Both of the loons are on D Pool nearer the shore and the loon observation deck which is always  nice for the people traveling through the Refuge.

C marsh doe was out eating and also another doe was further down across the pool in the water. “My” loon was in the same spot he was last weekend. We stopped and I said ‘hi’ to him.J

C Pool loons are back over in the cove while another loon flying over C to E Pool. There is also a male and female wood ducks further in to the cove. Of course, this time we stop they don’t fly off right away. If it had been good lighting and I had wanted a picture, they would have immediately flown off.

We hear a Wilson Snipe in the B marsh. And a couple of deer wander off the road down into the marsh at the end of the Marshland Drive. We head back to the trailer at 9:30 59 degrees. I need a little R & R before heading back  in or home depending on the weather. Michael is going to visit Claudia, Ryan and the girls. And see if he can get a hold of Greg McClelland about some Refuge business.

Seney Notes July 11, 2009 evening

Got up here with plenty of time to make a run through at 8:00pm. It is a gorgeous night breezy and 65 degrees.  The trumpeter swan are on the North Show Pool but can’t see how many cygnets they still have.

Wow!! There is a lone loon on the South Show Pool. We have never seen one out here before. That’s a nice way to greet visitors. J

F Pool has a gaggle of geese on it. Terns are flying around and the trumpeter swan still have two cygnets.

We take the Fishing Route where the trumpeter swan on F Pool have two cygnets. Big Daddy swn took off after the poor gaggle of geese clear back on the other end of F Pool. Whatever!

The osprey is in the nest with the young. There is a lone loon still on H Pool where also a Great Blue Heron is fishing at the of an island . The trumpeter swan still have five cygnets. Yeah!  That means the eagles must be catching lots of fish to feed their growing eaglets.

On J Pool young terns are squabbling and carrying on while all the single trumpeter swan are sleeping with their heads tucked under their wings. There is a pied-bill grebe at the marshy end of J Pool.

There are two beaver at the end of H marsh. One is out of the water gathering fern. It then takes it down to the other beaver in the water and they ‘kiss’. Sweet.

There is fresh bear scat on the drive between  J Pool and G Pool. Then on G Pool is the two loon and trumpeter swan with four cygnets.

There is a loon calling on E Pool with on flying over G Pool. One of the osprey flew over the west end of E Pool.

The trumpeter swan on D Pool still have four cygnets along with two, no make that four, loons that are bobbing up and down for attention.

The west of C is very quiet. There are a few wood ducks, trumpeter swan and a grebe family midway down the Pool.

A Great Blue Heron is flying over B marsh kaleidoscope of confusion at the end of  C/B. Snipes are calling, loon is wailing and Sandhills are flying. that’s the way to end a beautiful evening as the sunsets on Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

Not done yet there are two Sandhills spending the night at the teepees on M-77.

Seney Notes July 12, 2009 6:20am

It’s a partly cloudy day and 42 degrees. Still a little early for the sleeping critters. The lone loon is still on the South Show Pool.

The osprey is on the nest at the Visitors Center. A few wood ducks and geese are at the start of F Pool

We take the Fishing Route this morning where we can see one of the eaglets on the edge of the nest the other one must be sleeping yet. An osprey flew over us to the  trees near the nest. Another osprey flew low along E  Pool to the west.
A momma ring neck has six little one on H Pool where the trumpeter swan still have their five cygnets.

A loon is flying over to E Pool. An American Bittern is in the marsh end of H Pool. Four loons are flying off of J Pool to the west.  J Pool is full of trumpeter swan still sleeping.

G Pool has a couple of loons on it but not much else.  There is another American Bittern at the west side of E Pool. I was able to get a few shots off before it flew but lighting was not really in my favor.

There is a pair of Sandhills in D Marsh which we were watching when out of nowhere came a third year bald eagle. Sweet! Then we discover six loon on D Pool but they all took off shortly after we stopped to film them. L

There is a doe in B marsh, a few wood ducks on C Pool along with a few young Pied- Bill Grebes.  There is a single Sandhill flying over C to B. The two loons are bobbing around with an osprey flying over.

Three very quiet loons flew over C. Two circled back and landed. The other loon landed at the end of C Pool where a few wood ducks were. A Wilson Snipe is calling on the east end of B marsh. There is another loon on the small pool at the end of C.

We ended the run at 8:30am and it is 58 degrees.

We stopped at the teepees for a little break before starting our second run at 8:50. It is now mostly sunny. The South Show Pond trumpeter swan have three cygnets. 

The osprey is above the nest at the Visitors Center. A snipe is calling at the start of F Pool.

We take the Marshland Drive where the trumpeter swan have two cygnets. The eaglets are on the edge of the nest. No parents are in sight.  The two loon babies are on the southeast side of E Pool with one of the parents but out too far to get any photos. Another bummer year for shots of the babies on the parents back. L

Wow four Great Blue are flying over C heading north. Hope we will be able to get a shot of them. There are two Sandhills in C marsh near the C/E spillway. There are lots of geese and trumpeter swan around the eagle island.

Cool! One of the eaglets just flew over to another pine tree to the west of the nest. We knew they would be fledging soon. Now we know for sure. The other is in the nest going ‘no way that I am going to do that”J

Then the fledged eaglet flew over to a tree on the other side of the nest. His sibling is trying to prepare himself by flapping his wings and hopping around the nest.

A loon flew over E and turned to go over to C. Also a Sandhill flew over E to C marsh. More loons are flying around every which way. We waited for over two hours for the mature eagles to come back to the nest. But alas, to no avail.
There is a loon out past the swan observation deck on E Pool. Also the first trumpeter swan to hatch their young still have four cygnets.
An osprey is flying over E Pool where a loon just flew across. And we spotted a couple of merlin on the drive almost at the end of E Pool.  We try to track a Harrier as he flew over the west end of C marsh but alas no luck.

One of the loon is on D Pool near the shore. It lets me take a couple of shots then drifts out into the center of the Pool. One of the osprey is by the nest at the end of D Pool.

Our loons on C Pool let us shoot them for about twenty minutes. That was so cool. They usually do not like us to be that close. Finally as we near the end of B marsh, we find a Harrier floating over the end of B marsh. We end the run at 1:00pm It is 69 degrees.

Seney Notes July 12, 2009 third run

We stop and take a lunch break at the restaurant in Seney then right back out at it. We decide I can work on the computer out on the Refuge as well as at the trailer. And still be able to enjoy the beautiful day and catch a little wildlife, hopefully.

No major changes on the Pools. We stop and hang out at the Eagle stop. An adult just flew out of the nest. Bummer,  we missed them bringing in lunch to the babies.

We spot one of the mature eagle soaring as we come back around to C Pool. It was nice that it soared over near the eagle observation deck where a few people were looking at the old nest.

We spotted an unusual hawk soaring over the end of C Pool. We’ll have to check out Michael’s footage to see what it was. We stopped for a few minutes near the small pool. While we were sitting there a merlin flew with a little kingbird chasing it. And we discovered where the Great Blue Herons were. Three of them just flew out of the end of C Pool. Two headed east out of the Refuge. One circled back to land in a dead tree. And both osprey were in the nest in the middle of the small pool where a lone loon was snoozing.

We decided to go right back around. We took the Fishing route. Nothing out of the ordinary till we got at the west end of E Pool where the sun was shining on a loon. We got out to snap a little footage when a bittern flew right near where I was standing. The loon did let me get fairly close as I talked to it. Also the kingfishers were having a fight and flew right in front of me. But unfortunately I  couldn’t capture any of that on the camera.

The loon on D Pool let me talk before it moved away from the shore. Another loon flies over then circles back and landed near the other one.

Nothing else any different then when we left. So ended the day at 8:30pm at 62 degrees with the sun still up.

Seney National Wildlife Refuge Journal  August 15, 2009

The loons on F Pool between the islands. There are three loons that just flew into H Pool and Michael was able to capture it all on film. If he hadn’t been in his chair he could have never been able to get it all.

C Pool had two loons messing around and an osprey fishing. A great blue heron and a pair of Sandhills were in B Pool where they are working on the road.

Seney Notes August 16, 2009

The South Show Pool has the trumpeter swan with four cygnets. The North Show Pool has the trumpeter swan with two cygnets. Frik and Frak are at the entrance of the Refuge to greet everyone.JThey then flew into the Refuge and landed on an island on F Pool.

There is a Great Blue Heron on the tippy top of a dead pine tree in E Pool. H Pool has five loons on it. They are bobbing up and down. One shoots out of the water doing the dance. Sweet!! Hopefully Michael was able to capture it on film( he was in the chair).

C Pool is busy with lots of wood ducks, some pied bill grebes and two loons. B marsh is full of Sandhills, Canadian geese and a number of other waterfowl.
A great blue is near the B/C spillway and another is in B marsh near the road construction area.

Two loons fly over C Pool where four female wood ducks are and the trumpeter swan with three cygnets are eating. Our lone loon is at the end of C Pool close to the shore(for the moment). So I was able to get a couple of shots of it before he moved away.

Before we start our second round Michael stops to drop off an order for Claudia in the Gift Shop and ,of course, to talk to Ryan. J

There are trumpeter swans everywhere you look on E Pool. We don’t see the eaglets in their nest. Maybe they are napping. The E Pool loon family is out near the C/E spillway. Further down there is a pair of Sandhills by an island napping.

D Pool quiet with only the trumpeter swan and their two cygnets but two loon flew over on their way to who knows.

One of adult eagles were flying over B Pool where at least eight Sandhills have gathered. We will have to keep track of this location for possible Fall gathering.

It is 4:30 overcast but still warm when we decide to take a last run through for the day. Before we get to the Refuge though we spot a male Harrier. I attempt to take some shots as we raced down the highway after it.J (we were probably going 35 miles an hour).

Nothing much going on till we got to H Pool where a Great Blue Heron got startled and flew off before Michael could get on it.

The osprey is in its nest of D Pool where the trumpeter swan with two cygnets are still gliding around.

Whoa! There is a Great Egret on B Pool along with a  bevy of  other waterfowl such as green winged teals , wood ducks and godwits. 
Trumpeter swan with three cygnets at the end of C Pool. But nothing else showed itself to us from there on out. So at 6:00 we headed back to our trailer to plan our next move.

Seney Notes August 17,2009 We woke up to fog so we waited for it to burn off. We headed into the Refuge around 8:15. It has turned out to be a gorgeous day . Just a few lingering clouds floating around.

One loon is out in F Pool near the usual islands. Two loons are fling into F Pool on the Fishing Route side. Another loon is flying over toward I Pool and yet another flying over E Pool. It looks like it should be a good “loonie” day. J

A pair of Sandhills is cackling on an island on E pool. A pair of trumpeter swan have two cygnets on F Pool along with a few geese. F Pool baby loons are near the shore passed the F/C spillway. An osprey is flying along by us on E Pool. A pair of Sandhills are flying low over F Pool and land on the marshy west end.

The trumpeter swan still have their five cygnets busily eating on H Pool along with a ring neck family.

There are five good ole boy loons on the back side of J Pool. We decide to wait and see what they are going to do. One of the young loons is floating near the shore for the early morning visitors to see. The young terns are swooping and chasing each other. They are as noisy as any typical family of siblings.

OK three of the five loons are taking off. Yeah one of them flies straight over us! Both Michael and I were able to get some sweet shots! Now there are four loons flying all over the place. Soon three more come back to land on J Pool.

The baby loon is still just floating along the shoreline minding its own business.  There is a great blue heron on an island in the middle of J Pool. Michael sets up one of his cameras to film him. It is cool how the morning light is shitting him. All of a sudden three of the loons decided to head out of J Pool to the east away from us. So we move on down the road.

On G Pool there is one lone loon and the pair of trumpeter swan with four cygnets. Otherwise it is fairly quiet. Another couple went around us and stopped passed the D/E spillway to shot a loon. I informed the gentleman that if they parked at the end of the Fishing Route and walked just over the hill that he could shoot the other parent with its baby. He thanked us and proceeded to follow my suggestion. That is half the fun of being on the here, sharing our knowledge of the Refuge.

A great blue was sitting on top of a tree but flew before we could stop on C Pool. A pair of Sandhills is flying over B marsh to the mud flats. And there are more loons screaming and flying around. Sweet.

There is another great blue in a tree farther down on C Pool. It flies over to the other side of a lagoon and sits in a tree. There are two loons around the corner of C Pool. One takes off and flies right over us. Sweet!

There are godwits in the mudflats where they are working on B Pool along with a great blue.

As we are driving we hear a loud clunk on the top of the truck. It happens again. I look up(I am on the chair) there is a red squirrel knocking down pinecone from a jack pine. He is biting them off so they will drop down to the ground. We have to laugh it is so comical.

Our couple stop to see if they can get a shot of it. The gal notices that there is another great blue in a tree a little further back. An osprey is fishing over the east end of C Pool as the other one waits patiently in the nest on the small pool passed C.

It is 11:15 and we decide to go visit the girls and Ryan at the Visitors Center and give them my report from yesterday.

We didn’t get back on the Refuge till after 1:30. We spent an hour in the Visitors Center which was very busy (yeah!). We got to talk to the couple we met on the drive. They are from Chicago and traveling around Lake Michigan from Wisconsin through the Upper Peninsula then the Lower Peninsula.

It is clouding up a little but still beautiful out at 80 degrees. We decide to take the Fishing Route again but I had a feeling we should go the other way. We checked out the eagle’s nest and discovered one of the young in a pine on the island. But I could hear an eagle screaming and discovered the other eaglet in a dead pine I knew to be on the other side of E Pool right on the drive !!!  So don’t tell anyone but I backed up (not far-a few feet) and changed our course to the Marshland Drive.

We were first greeted by the east end loons with their two young. But the lighting wasn’t good so we moved quickly on to see what was up with the eaglet.

Yeah, it is still in the tree which we practically parked under. Michael was in the “chair” filming and I was getting a stiff neck from tipping way back to get some good shots of the “baby”. Sweet!! He was crying and carrying on wanting one of her parents to come and feed her.

She did eventually fly, soaring around a little before heading back to the nest on the island. We thanked her then moved on down E Pool. One of the west end loons with the baby were out near the shore on the last straight away along E Pool. Then a lone Sandhill flew right across in front of us to an island on E Pool behind the loons.

There is also an osprey fishing around the west end of E Pool probably to feed his family on D Pool. There are   two loons on D Pool messing around but not close enough to get any shots. Lighting wasn’t good anyway.

Yeah, this time we get to the B mud flats we discover the Great Egret is still here at the Refuge along with great blues and Sandhills feeding in the same area. Around the corner an adult eagle is flying over C probably trying to find some “fast” food for the kids. J

The last thing we see is the osprey in its nest on the small pool past C Pool. We call it quits at 3:30. After a couple of calls downstate we decide to head to Grand Marais to see what we can see.

 7:15pm. Making a last run through tonight. Clouds have moved in but it is really nice out at 71 degrees.

We are going to check out eagles before choosing a route. No one in sight so we head down the Fishing Route.

Geese are acting goofy, taking off and landing on F Pool and E Pool. The osprey is in the nest in the middle of F Pool while another one is in the tall tree to the east with the sunlight is hitting it.

There is a great blue in the F marshy area. The trumpeter swan with the five cygnets on H Pool are busy eating their dinner.

We can only see one loon on J Pool and a Great Blue at the end of J. We were surprised to see the sharp-tailed grouse back on the H/G drive. But this time there was two young not just the one we saw yesterday.

G Pool has the trumpeter swan with their four cygnets but then in comes a loon landing next to them.

Our little eaglet is spreading her wings. She has made it down to the west end of E Pool in the “feeding” tree. Hopefully she isn’t thinking about trying to have one of the cygnets below her for dinner.

I don’t think the adults would take to kindly with that course of action.

We have a doe on a hill in the west end of B marsh. She is busy trying to keep the bugs off of her, poor thing. The great blues have been much more visible this weekend. Tonight one flew over C pool to B marsh. Then another flew into a tree on an island in C Pool. There are two loons on C Pool where the beavers are busy, busy, busy. We even have a family of beaver at the end of C Pool working to gather “food”.  Oh, and the great egret is still in the mud flat area of B near the construction area. The sunset was spectacular as we end our drive at 9:00.

Seney Notes August 18, 2009

Sunshine and a breezy 64 degrees at 8:00am. My turn in the chair this morning. If heard a snipe around the start of the drive. One of our eaglets is in the tall dead tree between F Pool and I Pool. She is easily visible if you know what you are looking for. The other eaglet is on the eagle island in the middle tall tree.

A merlin is swooping over F Pool looking for a tiny morsel for breakfast. The trumpeter swan with their two cygnets are floating blissful around F Pool near one of the adult loons.

There is an osprey on and by the nest in the middle of F Pool. Lots of wood ducks on E Pool near the E/F spillway. The male wood ducks are going through some kind of molt so they don’t look quite like their usual handsome selves. They will get their ‘dress’ mating feathers in September through June.

F Pool baby loons are farther out behind an island not like they were yesterday when they  showed off for some of the morning visitors.

J Pool has one loon, no make that five loons. Three of them take off flying around and out of the area. We can still hear them calling but not sure where they ended up. One flew back in and landed near the two that were left.

An osprey surprised me and flew out of a tree to swoop down and catch a fish on the west end of J Pool. Further down a great blue heron is fishing intently as three female Northern Shovelers play in the mud.

It is all and all a quiet morning. Nothing visible on the H/G drive except a blue jay or two and a kingfisher.

G Pool is rough with the wind blowing out of the northwest. The trumpeter family is this side of an island out of the wind enjoying a snack. The four cygnets are really growing thanks to the protectiveness of their parents.

One of our eaglets is back in the ‘feeding’ tree at the west end of E Pool but before we get close enough to shoot her, she takes off(maybe because an osprey came screaming toward her).

The marshy start of C Pool is starting to fill up with wood ducks and an occasionally pied bill grebe or two. A great blue heron is on a dead limb on the “dead” tree island midway down C Pool. We couldn’t believe our luck, it was still there when we came around the corner to get a closer shot. Another great blue flew over that one and then they both flew off.

While we shooting the great blue we heard one of our eaglets screaming. Sure enough she was back in the same tall dead tree on the Marshland Drive as yesterday!! We hope she stays put till we finish this round.

Sandhills and geese fill the mud flats on B pool. A great blue is in his usual place in the corner of B where the construction is taking place.

On the small pool at the end of C Pool, an osprey is in the nest crying. Finally we see a doe in the marshy area at the end of the drive.  We haven’t seen any of our usual girls lately.L

Well, we immediately head right back on to the Marshland Drive to try to catch our eaglet before she decides to leave. Oh no, the two adults are in the tall dead tree between F & I Pools sitting side by side. Looks like they are eating a fish. Hope the babies don’t decide to hone in.

Yeah! She stayed put in the same tree as yesterday. She was higher up so was able to get much better footage than yesterday. Besides the sun is shining off and on and the blue sky keeps showing behind her. Should make for some good pics! She turns around to get more comfortable so I move quietly down the drive to get a better view of her. She seems fine with that. She merely glanced down and continued to cry occasionally for attention from her absent parents. Poor Michael has to move the truck to let two cars by us. The first car didn’t care what we were shooting they just wanted to speed along. I am not sure why some people even bother driving through. They don’t realize what they are missing out on by hurrying through life. Sad.L  The second car was visitors from Germany who were very happy we showed them the young bald eagle. They loved the Upper Peninsula and thought it was very beautiful.

Well as the cars were traveling underneath her, I talked to her and told her that no one was going to hurt her. She cocked her head and continued to look for her family. At one point the other eaglet was soaring over her also searching for their parents.

Then it happened. She decided to take off but not before she swooped by me not once not twice but three times. My heart leapt with the sheer joy and exhilaration of seeing this magnificent young creature respond to my admiration. Words cannot express the sense of wonder and the thrill that came over me from this simple response by this wild untamed raptor.

Wow, everything else is just gravy from here on out.J Our west end E Pool loon was showing off its young. It was trying to teach it how to do a little fishing. We meet a couple from Jackson, Michigan, Charlotte and Tom. They were so excited to see all the trumpeter swan and the loon with the baby. They were disappointed that they missed out on the eagle but enjoyed seeing the pictures I had just taken. It is always nice to share the common bond that nature instills in so many of us.

Well further down the road we ran into a truck full of fishermen that we had seen earlier in the day. They were getting out of their waders etc. and pulling leaches off themselves. Yuck!!! The one guy had blood running down his leg. L Of course, Michael had to stop and ask them how the fishing went. There were three dads each with one son. The two younger teenagers got out their pike and Michael and I photographed them. I told them I would mention their names in my journal and post their photo on our website www.mcgillsnatureinmotion. I also told them I would see if the Visitors Center would put it on their photo gallery display. So here’s to Hugh Comben and Jack O’Shea good job guys. Hope you enjoyed eating your trophies. J The one man has spent five years in Iraq and his son has been in Afghanistan . Both are waiting to be called back. The dad was full of fishing stories but not the usual ones. His stories are from all around the world. His favorite place is the Philippines but he has also been to Thailand, Cambodia etc etc. His father owns the Buckhorn Inn nearby. 

That is what makes what we do so much fun. You never know who you will run into but you know it will be someone who shares the common bond of nature.

We weren’t done yet. We trekked out to the end of the point near the B Pool mud flats where two Sandhill cranes and the Great Egret were feeding. I was able to get a few good shots off before the egret caught sight of us. Sweet!

Then further down the way at the C/B spillway a great blue heron was feeding with a male wood duck as a companion. It was a fairly cloudy day but the sun seemed to stay with us most of the time. What a glorious  and exhilarating  day at Seney National Wildlife Refuge. We so do not want to leave but we will be back next Saturday night.J

August 23, 2009

It is 56 degrees at 8:30 am It is cloudy and cruddy. L The trumpeter swan and their two cygnets are on the North Show Pool.

An American bittern flew out of F Pool at the start  where ABJ and his young are feeding. The juvenile eagle is in a pine tree on the west end of Eagle island. There is a great blue heron flying over E Pool as two loons fly over F Pool. We are taking the Fishing Route with Michael taking the first turn on the ‘chair’.

In the marshes of F Pool is another great blue heron. Wood ducks and northern shovelers are busy feeding on H Pool. And yet another great blue heron is on the island in the middle of J Pool where a few trumpeter swan and a loon are feeding.

There is a great blue heron in a tree in the middle of E marsh. It is so nice to finally be seeing a few more of these intriguing creatures. The trumpeter swan family is on the back side of G Pool feeding where two loons just took off. And another American bittern just flew out of a grassy area not the typical reedy marsh. Interesting.

There is a pair of Sandhill cranes in the marshy area passed the E/D spillway. A Northern Harrier is swooping around the west end of C marsh but not able to capture it on film. L

There are three loons on D Pool where a great blue heron is wading and the osprey is crying in the nest. I love the sounds of nature in the morning even on such an ugly morning as this. We have seen a few areas with bear scat on the drive.

I think it is the same harrier flying around the marshy west end of B Pool. It went down for something and stayed down for several minutes. When it did come out of the tall grasses it sat in a small pine tree. It is a beautiful reddish brown. I am sure it is a young one by its actions and color.

Three pied bill grebes are on C Pool with a scattering of wood ducks bobbing to and fro. The loons are flying and calling but not settling down. The two C Pool loons are floating near the nesting area.
Sandhills are in the B mud flats with various little other shore birds. We can see ‘princess’ on her throne that she likes on the Marshland Drive. Sweet! It is cool to be able to spot her clear across the Refuge from where we are. You just have to know where and how to look for nature.

The trumpeter swans have invaded the east end of C Pool. What’s that all about? Have they eaten all the vegetation everywhere else?

We discover more bear scat at the end of the Marshland Drive at 10:45 where it is still cloudy and only 60 degrees.

We started the second round at 11:00 but got stopped by a red-tailed hawk before we hit the Refuge entrance.J It was a juvenile who hadn’t acquired a fear of humans yet. It posed for us over thirty minutes but was disrupted when a young man and his father pulled up behind us and called out loudly, “what are you filming”. L Urgh!! Oh well, we had a nice visit with them and found out the young man was in the military and his father was wildlife biologist from Buffalo, N.Y. The young man would like to study zoology in order to work with wolves. He first needs to learn caution even his father said that. J We told them where they should be able to see the eaglet at. They really wanted to see an American Bald Eagle in the wild.

We stopped at the Visitors Center to say to Ryan and Claudia. They were extremely busy. Yeah! Gave them a picture of ‘princess’ the eaglet we had shot on Tuesday on the Marshland Drive.
As we FINALLY start the second round we spy a merlin in a dead tree on the left side of the Marshland Drive. It took off over F Pool where ABJ(the loon)and his kids were floating.

Our ‘princess’ is in a scraggly pine tree in the middle of C Pool area just west and across from Eagle island.  A great blue heron is in E Pool at the start of the Fishing Route. wood ducks are on the channel of E/H. one of the yound loons on J Pool is floating by itself. A merlin flew out of H marsh across to J marsh and landed in a pine tree.

G Pool has a couple of pied bill grebe. There is a young osprey flying and crying over D, G and E Pools hoping to get ‘someone’ to listen to him. The swan family is sunbathing on the beautiful banks of G Pool’s southside.

The two loons are on D Pool where an osprey is sitting by the nest crying up at the sky.  As we venture on a pair of Sandhills is in the drive cackling at another pair that is on a knob in B marsh. Our juvenile eagle is still sitting in the scraggly pine tree.

Pied bill grebes and wood ducks are all bobbing up and down and in and out of the marshes of C Pool.

The two loons are further down in their usual spot on C Pool. Sandhills cranes are stilling enjoying the benefits of having B Pool drained back to mud. The great blues seemed to enjoy it to along with a bevy of other mud lovers.

The sun is finally breaking through. Wow, everything smells better when the sun shines on it. It is around 2:30-3:00 where we stop to watch some of the antics of the invading trumpeter swans. We decide to have a snack break. Of course, a young man from Ohio stopped by to see what we were filming. “Is it going to be on Discovery or National Geographic’s?” J We had a pleasant exchange and he headed on his way.

We had a break and then headed out for a couple of rounds through the Refuge. The sun was not cooperating with us this day. Nothing extraordinary happened but always enjoyable none the less.

Seney Notes August 24, 2009

It is 45 degrees at 7:30 am and foggy but hopefully will burn off.  A great blue heron on F Pool took off before we could capture any footage.

We hear ‘Princess”, the 3 ½ month old eagle,  crying from’ her’ tree so we change course and head down the Marshland Drive. As we turn the corner the east end loon family are our for a morning snack.

'Princess’ posed for us for over half of hour before trying out another tree to get her parents attention. So if you are driving down the Marshland Drive make sure to look up you never know what you might find there.

One of the west end loons is in front of the swan observatory. Wood ducks on E Pool scattered as simultaneously two great blue herons and two Sandhill cranes fly onto an island.

There are two loons flying overhead. The other loon parent and baby are just around the corner but not good lighting. There are six loons at the west end of E Pool where the trumpeter swan with their four cygnets are feeding. It is a noisy morning on the Refuge-sandhills, loons, eagles and osprey.

One of the six loons is moving toward where the baby loon is. I think it is the daddy saying ‘enough guys time to move on’. All of a sudden four of the loons take off then the fifth. Looks like the loons are heading to D Pool.

Yes, the five boys are indeed on D Pool make that six loons. It must be the D pool male. We watch them mess around for quite awhile. Meantime red squirrel is busy eating pine nuts. A hummingbird flits in and out around the wildflowers. And one of osprey young is perched in a pine tree by the loon observatory crying for a little attention.

Eventually five of the loons flew off but three later returned. A great blue landed in one of the pine trees at the north end of D Pool. Two loons left to the west. The last one posed a little went into the corner and flew off right in front of me. Five minutes later he returned to his Pool, the D Pool male.

The great blue herons are flying around. It is so nice to see them throughout the Refuge. The last few years haven’t been productive for them. C Pool and B Pool mud flats are good feeding areas for them.

Princess is still in her tree calling her parents. Loons are still flying around the Refuge.

We take a second run through. The sun is shining and we don’t want to go home. But we will be back next weekend hoping for at least one nice day.

Seney National Wildlife Refuge Journal  August 30, 2009

We work up to sunshine,  clear skies and 48 degrees at 8:30 am. The baby loon is on F Pool near the Fishing Route entrance. We can see one of the juvenile eaglets in a tree on the Marshland Drive.

Sandhills are flying out of the H/E marshy area two and three at a time. At least fifteen flew out in a matter of minutes.

The beaver family we saw last night is still at the end of J channel in the sweet grass. We think they are training their young one.

Still more Sandhills flying out of the marshes. The trumpeter swan family of four cygnets is at the east end of G Pool not where they usually are. They must be expanding the young ones horizons.

D Pool has five loons on the back side of it. We decide to hang out awhile to see if they take off anywhere near us. They all take off to the northwest not toward us. But they circled back and flew right over us. Yes, patience pays off.

We hear the osprey screaming. When we finally locate it, there is a juvenile eagle being attacked by not just one but two osprey. The eagle eventually hightails it out of the area.

We move on down the road to C Pool where a few wood ducks are bobbing to and fro. Michael spots a Merlin in a dead tree on one of the islands on C Pool. Two loons fly over us heading toward B Pool.

Two trumpeter swans fly into C Pool and performed a dance when they faced each other.
The osprey from the small pool at the end of C Pool is flying over B back over to east end of C where a great blue heron is sitting in a tree on the peninsula. There is a pied bill grebe, ring necks and some wood ducks splashing around along with a number of trumpeter swans at the end of C Pool.

There is also an osprey in the nest in the small pool. We end the run at 10:30 to clear and sunny skies.

We do a fast run through on the Marshland Drive this time. Before we get to the Fishing route turn  we spot ABJ and one of his young. ABJ was feeding the baby small minnows. If ABJ couldn’t see the baby he would call porpoise like till the baby surfaced. And vice versa, if the baby couldn’t see daddy it would squeak even more porpoise like.J

One E Pool loon baby is out at the east end of E pool. The adult and the other baby were further down.

Now sign of eagles this go round. It was fairly quiet. We think the wind was driving everything to seek shelter.

We take a break and come back at 3:30pm to sun with clouds starting to move in at 63 degrees.

At the east end of E Pool are one of the loon adults with its two young. A great blue heron is in C marsh east of the E/C spillway.

We thought that Princess was in her tree but it turned out to be one of the adults. It immediately flew out and soared to the northeast. Shortly after that the juvenile flew from the west into the nest tree where it immediately started screaming for attention.

One of the west end E Pool loons is near the swan observatory. The baby was further down the Pool to the west. When we reached the area, Michael started filming it. It was so cool, it started turning over and flapping its wings like it was trying to learn to fly. Yes!! Then we discovered six Sandhills on an island further down on E Pool. While watching them another pair flew behind them.

Seney National Wildlife Refuge Journal August 31, 2009

It is frosty and 31 degrees at 8:00am. As we near the Refuge a heavy ground fog appears. As we start the drive a great blue heron flew out of the small pool at the beginning of the Fishing Route.  Trumpeter swan are flying out of E and eventually swing back to come into J Pool.

A great blue is in the middle of H Pool where the trumpeter family of five cygnets is just having their morning breakfast.

The young loons on J Pool are farther back toward the middle of the pool. We startle another great blue heron out of a pine tree on the drive passed J channel. As we continue down the drive we are dazzled by the glistening of a thousand cobwebs, nature’s artwork, touched by the sun’s rays.

We stop on G Pool so Michael can do a panoramic shot of the still morning water. As he was doing so he noticed a great blue heron on a stump in the middle of an island on G Pool. On further inspection he discovered a second great blue heron in front of the island.

The morning was not only still but very quiet. An occasionally honking of the trumpeter swan or the sounds of the raven family having a squabble.

As we come around to D Pool we discover, of course, our five ‘good ole boy’ loons near the back of the pool. So we park our vehicle and again wait patiently for what is to come. While shooting the ‘boys’ carrying on and doing belly ‘dancing’ a group of Sandhill cranes fly over us. We were both able to get off a few good shots. Sweet. Back to the ‘boys’, after much  posturing four of the five take off. They fly away from us as we knew they would because the prevailing wind is out of the northwest. Birds always fly into the wind when taking off or landing. They did circle back but not close enough for any aerial shots.L

During all of that commotion, the osprey adult and young were doing some aerials of their own. They both eventually flew right over the top of us. Sweet shots!

As we are driving along C Pool, Michael hears a Wilson Snipe. It seems to be staying in front of us on most of the drive.

Princess, the four month old eaglet was in a tree on the south side of the drive. She was sitting very low in a fairly small tree. She must have been hunting or trying to. She flew off and eventually landed in a tree near the ’old’ nest where the Eagle Observation Deck is.

Sandhills are flying and cackling around the B mud flats. As we round the last corner on C Pool we discover a great blue heron in the same tree he was in yesterday. I think it is so cool to see them sitting in the scraggly trees. It makes them appear even more prehistoric then they already do. There was also another great blue along with twenty plus trumpeter swans in the cove behind.

It is 11:30 and time to stop in to say ‘Hi’ to Pat, Karen and Ryan. The girls got to see the ‘chair’ for the first time. I think they were impressed. Pat definitely wants to ride it, Karen’s not quite sure yet. They wave goodbye as we start our final round of the day. 

ABJ and one of his young are out farther in F Pool. The E Pool east end loon with one young was near the E/C spillway. They were both taking a snooze. Sandhills were flying out of E Pool to the south. The trumpeter swans on C side were raising a ruckus.

As we meander down the drive, there is not a sign of the eagles.L But the west end loon with its one young are feeding near the shore so we could capture a few shots. The adults might all be gone by the time we come back up in two weeks. So I bid them goodbye and good health till next spring.L We are amazed at how quiet the second run is. We guess on such a beautiful day everything is just chillin’ out.

Seney  National Wildlife Refuge Journal September 27, 2009

The trumpeter swans are gathered around the south side of “Eagle” island between another bank of islands.

As we drive past the ‘eagle’ corner Michael notices some birds in the middle of E Pool. On further investigation we discover them to be three horned grebes. Sweet!! They are in their non breeding plumage of grey, white & black.

Our E Pool baby loon is still bidding his time till he feels prepared to leave his home. The trumpeter swan family of four cygnets are feeding nearby with a following of wood ducks cleaning up their scraps.

The wind is picking up and it is feeling colder. Of course I am the one on the chair this morning. L

Wood ducks are bobbing back and forth in C Pool. Further down the pool pied bill grebes submerge as we get within filming distance. A great blue heron is fishing in a protected cove out of the wind.

It’s Michael’s turn on the chair. It is 65 degrees and windy. One of the mature eagles is again flying over E Pool to F Pool to settle on its favorite ‘fishing’ tree. The baby is still in the nest crying. Whatever! Then the other mature heads over to the ‘fishing’ tree in F Pool. The eagles then sat and talked to each other. Cool!

There is a cormorant in J Pool along with a few trumpeter swans, pied bill grebes and wood ducks.

As we cross the bridge further down the drive Michael discovers a great blue heron fishing intently.

Another great blue heron is fishing further down behind the island on J channel.

There is a pair of Sand hills at the end of G marsh. A great blue heron is on the north end of D Pool.

As we approach the end of D pool the osprey is still in its nest. I decide to walk back down the trail to get a closer vantage point to photograph the screaming baby.

C Pool has a large of ring neck along with a great blue heron that just caught his lunch.

Geese, mallards and a couple of Sandhills are all that’s visible of in the B Pool mud flats. There is a Rough-legged hawk flying over the small pool at the end of C Pool. Then finally something in the marshes, a couple of young hooded mergansers. Sweet.

We discover the east end E Pool young loon is still here. It is happily fishing in the wavy water. A flock of ring neck swoop into  the backside of C Pool.

The wind gusts are getting stronger and it is finally starting to rain. Since neither of us is using the chair because of the dust devils, Michael decided to take it off before it got too bad.

Our final interesting sighting is on the small pool at the end of C Pool. A female ring neck and a female hooded merganser are swimming closer and closer together until they cross paths and continue together across the pool. Interesting!

Seney National Wildlife Refuge Journal October 12, 2009

Back to the Refuge, it is 35 degrees and snowing. It’s not an accumulating snow just wet and sloggy.

The wood ducks continue to bob around the marshy areas. The trumpeter swans will stay as long as there is open waters in which to feed. We are surprised that the pied bill grebes are still hanging out along with ring necks. The small flock of coots is still midway down C Pool back along the marshy area happily feeding.

The waters across the Refuge are serenely calm despite the messy moisture falling from the sky. The quiet is starting to encompass the area despite an occasional interruption from passersby. As we near the end of the drive a large flock of robins is gathering in the meadows finding comfort in numbers. So farewell till next spring. Catch us on our website www.mcgillsnatureinmotion.com. Check out our ‘Eagle Research Journal’ as we continue our winter studies of the American Bald Eagle.