A Pair of Fowl Creatures

 Once of the things that I like about boatwatching is the chance to see wildlife.  Usually I see water fowl.

This is a common merganser.

And this is a loon.

Whereupon I Catch a Bald Eagle

 So next I headed down to Ohio.  I wanted to go to the Ottawa Wildlife Preserve because I heard the drive would be opne.

First up was a female red winged blackbird.

Then I saw an egret.

I liked the way this one was looking at me.

He kept posing so I kept taking pictures.

I think this is a false map turtle.  At first I thought it was a slider but I didn't see the red behind the ear.

I thought it would have been cool to see a slider in the wild but I don't think they are native this far north.

In fact, I think the only reason there would be one is because they were released as a pet.

Anyway, this was cool to see because I don't see them that often.

And then I saw a painted turtle trying to cross the road.

I made sure not to hit him but I tried to direct him to the side.

Relative safety.

Better safety as he slide down to the water.

I think this is a tundra swan.

Another angle of him.

Another egret.

I was kind of surprised to see this one.

I didn't think I would see a loon this far south.

A group of eagles.

Another egret.

And because I like these birds.

A red winged blackbird.

As he is doing his song.  I like their song.

Another shot of him.

I was happy to see an eagle fairly close up.

I think this made my weekend, especially since I saw the owl the day before.

I was getting different angles.

As he looks out.

As he looks at me.

A profile.

Another angle.

Another profile.  It was pretty windy, so his feathers were getting pushed around.

Another angle.

I think I like this angle the best.

This looks more like what you see on seals and stuff.

He was getting ready to leave.

One more.

He ended up flying to another tree.

As he was looking in my direction.

Another shot.

I think this was a yellow leg.

An immature eagle.

A heron.

Another heron.

Some sort of snake but I'm not sure what kind.

And we end with a Canada goose.  All in all, it was a pretty good day.

Random Wildlife

If there's one thing about boatwatching, it's that it gives you some time to get some shots of things other than boats.

 Usually there are all kinds of water fowl on the water.  Like this Canada goose.

 I consider the cormorant to be my happy place bird.  Usually I see them flying by Port Huron and the Detroit River as well.

 Another shot of the Canada goose.

 And one more.

 There is an osprey nest near Mission Point.  I try to make it there at least once.

 It was nice to see that she was in her nest.

 I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this.

 usually you see cormorants skimming over the surface.

 I think this was a loon.

 I'm not sure what this was.

 Another cormorant.

 A seagull.

I think this is a young seagull.

 A coast guard boat with a friendly wave.

Another shot of that boat.