Bald Eagles and snow. China Poot Bay is an extraordinary place to watch Bald Eagles. We visited there several times during our stay in Homer. We were on a small sand spit that was covered in snow with snow-covered mountains as an amazing backdrop. The eages were very...
Bald Eagles in the surf. These eagles were on the beach, just up from the water line,in Kachemak Bay. Although they are sea eagles, it was strange seeing them wade into the sea to pick up scraps of fish. Their haunting calls rang out across the bay. Female birds weigh...
Sea Otter and her pup. We spent quite some time watching this adorable Sea Otter pup and its mother. They are endearing little creatures. Births occur year round but but peak in May and June. This was filmed in February. Remarkably gestation varies from 4-12 months...
The Sea Otters in Homer harbour had been having a tough time since the harbour had been packed with ice. As the ice began to disperse, the Sea Otters were more active and easier to watch. They are endearing little creatures. Sea Otters have the densest fur in the...
Bald Eagles are impressive birds. Their size and power is very evident when they come close. These eagles were on the beach, just up from the water line, on Cohen Island in Kachemak Bay. They have an almost sinister demeanour as they walk around. Their haunting calls...
Bald Eagles in snow. China Poot Bay is an extraordinary place to watch Bald Eagles. We were on a small sand spit that was covered in snow with snow-covered mountains as an amazing backdrop. The eages were very active! Female birds weigh on average 5.3kg whilst males...
Bald Eagles at sunset. As the sunset in China Poot Cove of Kachemak Bay, the Bald Eagles were still active in their search for fish. The light was lovely and the eagles made an impressive sight against the evening sky. The snow-covered mountains in the distance just...
Bald Eagles fishing. Bald Eagles are sea eagles and very adept at plucking fish from the sea. Bald Eagles subsist mainly on fish which they catch by swooping down and snatching from the water with their massive talons. Remarkably, they are able to take whole salmon...
Bald Eagles: power and beauty. Bald Eagles on the shore of Peterson Bay across Kachemak Bay from Homer, Alaska. The ice covered rocks and icicles made for a beautiful setting to watch these magnificent birds. Female birds weigh on average 5.3kg whilst males weigh in...
The Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) can be found from the southeastern United States to Central Chile and Uruguay. Black vulture adults stand 64 cm high, weigh 1.8 Kg with a 1.33m wingspan. These were viewed in Costa Rica.
The rather quirky King Vulture. King vultures have very distinctive black and white plumage which makes them easy to identify. However, King Vultures are uncommon and difficult to find. At Laguna del Lagarto there is a hide and bait is put out each day. This attracts...
Three-toed sloth. On our recent trip to Costa Rica we searched for sloths. These are quite common animals but very hard to spot since they live mostly in the tree canopy. Their colour makes them appear as a bunch of leaves. This animal put on a great display,...
Black-mandibled Toucan. Toucans are the quintessential birds of the neotropics. The Black-mandibled Toucan is the largest of the Toucans. We saw this magnificent specimen in Costa Rica.
Collared Aracari. Toucans are the quintessential neotropic birds. The wonderful Collared Aracari is the smallest of the Toucans but nevertheless is a lovely bird to see. These were seen in Costa Rica.
White-necked Jacobin. Costa Rica enjoys a diverse range of beautiful hummingbirds. Perhaps the most spectacular is the White-necked Jacobin. Its royal blue head is a notable feature. In wet lowland and the foot hills of Costa Rica, these birds are reasonably common....
The Resplendent Quetzal is resplendent indeed! We watched these Resplendent Quetzals in the Savegre Valley of Costa Rica. They were visiting a wild avocado tree close to a small, gurgling stream. They feed mostly on members of the avocado family The striking males...
Amazing leafcutter ants. In Costa Rica we watched as a single ant cut a large segment off a leaf before joining the masses to carry its load back to its colony. Interestingly, the leafcutter ants do not feed on the leaves. Rather, the leaves are used to feed their...
Magenta-throated Woodstar of Costa Rica. A lovely hummingbird! Costa Rica is a wonderful place to view hummingbirds. These birds feed on nectar and to do so have evolved the ability to hover and fly backwards. This and their striking colours make them a delight to...
An impressive bird of Costa Rica! Costa Rica is a wonderful place for bird watching. We had many encounters with the striking Keel-billed Toucan. This lovely bird has a bright and multi-coloured bill. A very impressive bird!
North American otters of Yellowstone. We had nice views of these North American otters from Uncle Tom's Point which overlooks the Upper Yellowstone Falls. They were quite a distance away and the view was through some bushes. First we saw their slides and then the...