A picture from warmer days last summer. A double-crested cormorant in her nest. She was in the process of communicating with her mate after he returned from gathering nesting materials #birdoftheday #waterbirds #blue #cormorant #birds #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin

In the midst of chaos, nature reminds us to take moments for peace and reflection. For the #birdoftheday theme of #oddcouples, a white-faced ibis and cattle egret hunt for food in a flooded field. #birds #ibis #egret #heron #cattleegret #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin

A barred owl that flew out from the forest and landed near the hiking path. For the #birdoftheday theme of #staredown #birds #owl #SuperbOwl #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin #barredowl

"What are you looking at?" - baby swamp sparrow #birdoftheday #staredown #birds #sparrow #babybird #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin

A picture fitting for both the #birdoftheday theme of #posted (birds sitting on a post) and #SuperbOwlSunday. #birds #snowyowl #owl #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin

"Serenity now!" - great egret #birdoftheday #birds #serenity #heron #egret #nature #wildlife #protectnature #dawn #sunrise #photography #EastCoastKin

One of my favorite birds to hear calling, and to observe in the wild. A gambel's quail for #smallbirdsaturday. #birds #quail #gambelsquail #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin #photography

A great egret taking flight as the sun is rising behind it. As the sun strikes the bird, the egret's body casts shadow on its front wing. #birdoftheday #backlitbeauty #birds #nature #wildlife #egret #heron #protectnature #EastCoastKin

While I am eagerly awaiting getting out this weekend after (mostly) recovering from a shoulder injury, I have enjoyed revisiting some pictures from warmer days. #birdoftheday #black&white #birds #egret #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin #heron

A double crested cormorant with its neck stretched for the #birdoftheday theme of #longnecks. #birds #cormorant #doublecrestedcormorant #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin

Great egrets start a summer day in the shallow water hunting for breakfast. #birds #birdoftheday #reflections #egret #heron #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin

Early morning flight. #birds #birdoftheday #egret #heron #dawn #nature #protectnature #wildlife #EastCoastKin #openwings

This turtle was eyeing the tongue that was poking out of the duck's beak. #birdoftheday #ducks #turtle #nature #wildlife #birds #marsh #protectnature #EastCoastKin

A grackle stands among spider webs for the #birdoftheday theme of #blue. #birds #grackle #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin

A sandhill crane looks at the camera directly. For the #birdoftheday theme of #eyecontact. #birds #crane #sandhillcrane #portrait #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin #photography

A goldfinch for the #birdoftheday theme of #finches #birds #goldfinch #nature #wildlife #photography #yellow #protectnature #EastCoastKin

At the start of a day, a robin catches the warmth of the sun. #forJanet #birds #birdoftheday #americanrobin #robins #nature #wildlife #thrush #EastCoastKin #protectnature

New photos soon, but for today, a great egret stands looking over the water for the #birdoftheday theme of #poise. #birds #egret #heron #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin

A deer licking snowflakes from its face in the midst of a snow covered forest. #snow #winter #blueskyartshow #deer #doe #nature #wildlife #photography #EastCoastKin

A young trumpeter swan staying close to its parent as it learns to navigate the world. For the #birdoftheday theme of #swans #birds #trumpeterswan #wildlife #nature #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin

A green heron walks away. Although this is a repeat post, it fits perfectly with the #birdoftheday theme of #walking. #birds #heron #greenheron #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin

A young trumpeter swan sleeps in the grass for the #birdoftheday theme of #shuteye. #birds #swan #trumpeterswan #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin #photography

A goldfinch atop a wilted sunflower. It was eating the seeds from the flower for much of the morning. #birds #birdoftheday #feedingtime #goldfinch #sunflower #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #backyardbirds #EastCoastKin

Whooping cranes enjoying a cool drink over the summer. For the #birdoftheday theme of #TwoOfaKind. #birds #crane #whoopingcrane #endangeredwildlife #protectnature #nature #conservation #wildlife #photography #EastCoastKin

A couple of very talkative northern flickers in a tree on a cold winter day. Perhaps they were discussing why people were out on such a frigid day. #birds #birdoftheday #perfectperch #woodpecker #flicker #northernflicker #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin

A friendly dark-eyed junco that appears to be smiling despite standing on frozen ground. For the #birdoftheday theme of #short beaks. #birds #sparrow #junco #darkeyedjunco #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin

A snowy egret in breeding plumage for the #birdoftheday theme of #longbeaks #birds #egret #heron #snowyegret #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin

A wattled crane at the International Crane Foundation. A threatened species, these cranes live in South Africa. For the #birdoftheday theme of #longbeak. #birds #crane #wattledcrane #longbeaks #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin #conservation

A trumpeter swan at dawn. It was situated on a small island as the day began. For the #birdoftheday theme of #solitude. #birds #swan #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin #sunrise #dawn #goldenhour

Three bald eagles were flying overhead for several minutes. Occasionally one would land in a tree for a few moments, then join the group again. Here, an eagle takes off after a brief break. #birds #eagle #baldeagle #birdoftheday #birdsinflight #raptor #protectnature #wildlife #EastCoastKin

As we face another difficult week, a symbol of hope and better days ahead. House finches for the #birdoftheday theme of #finches. #birds #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin

Tolerant neighbors in the middle of the Rio Grande River for the #birdoftheday theme of #natural. #birds #heron #greatblueheron #ducks #mallards #riogrande #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin #photography

"What are you looking at?" - marsh wren #birdoftheday #moodyfaces #birds #wren #marshwren #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin

A black necked crane (that lives at the International Crane Foundation) demonstrates how I feel every time I read the news. #birds #birdoftheday #moodyfaces #nature #wildlife #protectnature #cranes #blackneckedcrane #photography #EastCoastKin

For the #birdoftheday theme of #feathers&form, a sandhill crane sits in the grass on a sunny day. The sunlight highlights the texture and pattern of its feathers. #birds #crane #sandhillcrane #nature #wildlife #photography #protectnature #EastCoastKin #wildlife

For the #birdoftheday theme of #shortbeaks, a male blue grosbeak. #birds #grosbeak #bluegrosbeak #bluebird #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin

This roadrunner had a nest near the side of a small roadway. It would often cross the dirt road with small animals to take to its nest. #birds #birdoftheday #foodfinds #roadrunner #southwestwildlife #desert #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin

Small blue crane that live at the International Crane Foundation for #birdoftheday theme of #blackandwhite. #birds #crane #bluecrane #nature #wildlifephotography #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin #conservation #twosday

An immature bald eagle whose feather coloration gives it the appearance of being masked. It was watching adults fish in the river on a winter day. #birds #birdoftheday #speckles&spots #eagle #baldeagle #birdofprey #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin

Hearing the call of a gambel's quail is one of my favorite sounds of nature. For the #birdoftheday theme of #goldenhour, here is one at dawn that was calling to others as the day began. #birds #quail #gambelsquail #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin

Winter is in full force, & I am dealing with an injured shoulder, so I am sharing an older photo that I haven't posted previously. Two great horned owls sit in a snow covered tree. The more visible owl was watching a dove. #birds #owl #greathornedowl #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin

On the hunt. An egret catches a crawdad/crayfish at dawn. Its prey has a broken shell from the violence of its end. #caughtinmotion #birds #heron #egret #nature #wildlife #protectnature #birdoftheday #EastCoastKin #photography

As dawn begins, turkey leave the tree that was their bed for the night. #birds #birdoftheday #GoodLight #turkey #dawn #sunrise #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin

During the start of fall, I encountered a large group of cedar waxwings gathered in a tree. For the #birdoftheday theme of #b&w. #birds #cedarwaxwing #waxwing #blackandwhite #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin

As a difficult year comes to a close, the moments out in nature remain some of the best and most relaxing. Here are a few glimpses of my encounters with wildlife that were most popular with BlueSky. #birds #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin

For the #birdoftheday theme of #reflections, a trumpeter swan as dawn breaks. #birds #swan #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin

No small creature was safe when this roadrunner and kestrel were in hunting mode. For the #birdoftheday theme of #branchingout. #birds #birdofprey #kestrel #roadrunner #nature #wildlife #protectnature #EastCoastKin

White crowned sparrows are symbols of encouragement and joy. They feel very needed for the world right now. #birds #birdoftheday #branchingout #sparrows #whitecrownedsparrow #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin

The world is still dark as the sky begins to reveal the sun. This great blue heron, and others around begin to awaken. #serenity #birds #birdoftheday #nature #wildlife #photography #protectnature #heron #greatblueheron #sunrise #dawn #EastCoastKin

Flying together under the sun. #birds #birdoftheday #goose #snowgoose #geese #outstretched #nature #wildlife #protectnature #photography #EastCoastKin