Category Archives: wildlife

Willets and Terns around Westpoint Harbor

Posted on by under photos, wildlife

I went out for a paddle in the canoe. I usually take my camera with me because if I don’t, there will have been a great photo opportunity missed. The Terns have been diving, so I thought that I might be able to get a picture of one on its way down into the water for a fish. That didn’t happen, but I did get a few good pics of willets and terns around Westpoint Harbor. There is an abundance of wildlife here. For some other bird pictures, see my snowy egret post. For this outing, I set my camera to full-automatic mode so that it would take rapid-fire photos as soon as I pushed the button–in hopes of capturing a dive in progress.

The Willets were out in force as can be seen:

Willets flying in to land

The Willets like to hang out on this little island just off of Westpoint Harbor.

Willets central

More Willets off the bow of my canoe

The Terns were performing for me:

Tern flying low

Tern flying

This is a Tern hovering in the air after seeing a fish or something that looks tasty and just before taking a dive to go catch it:

Tern preparing to dive

The Tern dove, I missed it on the camera (I do have several photos of splashing water with no bird anywhere to be seen). This bird did get a nice dragonfly snack as can be seen.

Tern with dragonfly snack

I didn’t know how they swallowed in flight but they can really swivel their head when they do. No doubt that this bird slowed down during this maneuver because I didn’t get him in the center of the photo–at least that is my excuse.

Tern swallowing with head upside down

Bird photos take patience and persistence. I will take my camera again next time I go out for a paddle so that I can get more photos of Willets and Terns around Westpoint Harbor, and maybe, just maybe a successful photo of a Tern diving.

Snowy Egret

Posted on by under living aboard, wildlife

We have an abundance of cool wildlife around Mahdee. Seeing all of it is one of the great joys of living aboard our schooner at Westpoint Harbor. One fellow, in particular, has my greatest respect and admirations — the Snowy Egret. While serving in the US Navy I had many opportunities to wear an outfit that was completely white — from hat to shoes and everywhere in between. This was especially true when I was stationed in Washington DC because the all-white uniform was mandatory for one half of the year. Despite all of my experience with white, I could never keep my uniform white for more than about 10 minutes. I could take a shower, get into the uniform in a professionally cleaned house and have black and grey spots showing before getting out the front door.

Back to the Snowy Egret, I watch him hunting for food while walking over muddy embankments strewn with rocks and vegetation which is also covered in mud. I have never seen the Snowy Egret be anything but brilliant white. Truly amazing! He darts after food in the water and between rocks and never has a single spot of mud or grime. The plumage on this bird is simply fabulous — better than any Navy uniform by far. Once upon a time, before becoming a protected species, their feathers were twice as valuable as gold. For me, I know that the best way to keep those feathers looking great is to leave them with the Snowy Egret where, every time I see them, it makes my day.

Swanson Harbor Scene

Posted on by under photos, sailing, wildlife

I just ran across this June 2014 photo of Mahdee tied up at the Alaska state float in Swanson Harbor. What a lovely spot. Middle of nowhere but with great internet access. We ran our Verizon hotspot up the flag halyard in a baggie and it worked great. We were there a couple days and each day a different fishing boat or two would come in and spend the night before going out to fish again the next day. We ate well between crabbing and free salmon from visiting fishermen. Great experience. The only downside is this is the place an American Bald Eagle tried to snatch Beryl off the deck. We had to supervise all her outdoor time the entire visit to Alaska because with the number of eagles we saw we suspected she would be looked upon as a tasty meal by one. I had kitty-watch duty and, forgetting that she was outside, I was walking along the dock away from Mahdee when the eagle took his shot at her. Luckily she was hanging out under the canoe AND the dark gray Amsteel guard wires (lifelines) confused the eagle and he bore away just a few feet away from Beryl when he realized his big wingspan wasn’t going to make it through to his prey.

Swanson Harbor Alaska

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