Winter Wildlife of DC: it's not just pigeons and squirrels

A couple years ago, I heard a DC biologist give a talk at a National Zoo volunteer gathering about the wildlife present in DC.  He had motion camera photos of coyotes, foxes, bobcats, otters, eagles, and assorted other fauna found in DC.  I'm stealing the title of his talk above for this collection of photos of critters we've seen the last month or so wandering around the DC area.  Some places we saw them are in DC proper, some just across or in the middle of the Potomac River.  Ok, the pictures are mostly of birds, but there is a nice surprise at the end.

Seagulls photobombed while standing on the frozen Capitol reflecting pool

Washington Monument behind willow tree
and Canada goose standing in reflection in
Constitution Gardens 

Canada geese hanging out in Washington Monument reflection
in Constitution Gardens


Dyke Marsh lies south of DC in Virginia between the Potomac River and George Washington Parkway.  The most visible sections lie along a bike path close to the Parkway but there is a hiking trail that leads around the marshes up to the river's edge.

View of the river from the trail.
















Cormorant drying his wings in the sun after fishing.
I didn't notice the crow flying into the frame at the lower left
until I downloaded photos from the camera.
I always thought cormorants were black.  I was wrong.
Telling the crow to back off.
Heron trying to find a good spot to fish.
Surveying for a fish.
Unfortunately we stepped away right
before he caught his rather large fish.
The gull did not care.
It took some effort to swallow it.

Refusing to be outdone, the seagull found some snacks along the shore.







Back in DC proper, the National Arboretum features trees from and other plants from all over the US.

Lacebark pine

Pleasantly surprised by purple dinosaur among the exhibited plant life.
Former columns of the US Capitol

Perhaps what the current US Capitol will look like in the far future.




Whenever visitors ask for suggestions of things to visit in the DC area, I always suggest Roosevelt Island.  Located in the Potomac river betwixt Rosslyn and the Kennedy Center, the island is a pleasant surprise in the middle of the city: a rarely visited memorial and a miniature nature park.  I've seen deer there many times over the years, including a young buck this past month.  Assorted birds hang out on the island, but we didn't see a lot on our visits this winter.

Memorial to Theodore Roosevelt


Twenty-sixth US President or Stalin?


Goofy graffiti under the Roosevelt Bridge.
More bridge graffiti.
Yes, common Mallards, but nice to see their feet.

Cypress roots coming up for air in the marshy ground



Ok, not every photo is right near DC.  Some birds below from the backyard of Robin's folks' house in Warrenton, Virginia.

Cardinals and a sparrow.
Cardinals line up on a tree.

Blue jay showing off the variety of colors on his wings
Woodpecker hanging out.
Squirrel stealing from the birds.












A really cool place we go to see critters is Huntley Meadows.  Every visit provides something different to see.  When we visit we are frequently the only visitors without a camera the size of a rocket launcher.

Flooded forest along the path to marsh.
We usually see turkeys, woodpeckers, wrens, nuthatches, etc.

I think Fairfax Parks and Recreation pays this heron.
It's always standing along shore as you walk the boardwalk through the marsh.


Verification that it was cold.  Ice in the marsh.













More ice.

Ok, I thought it was pretty.













Canada geese coming in to land.




More coming in.


































Landed (or watered).

















Canada Geese Crescendo

Alright you took your picture.  Go home.

OK, common mallard ducks, but one is scratching himself.

Hooded Mergansers

Merganser taking off

Another Merganser (male)

Another Merganser (female)


Pintail pair

Pintail female

Another Pintail pair


Bald Eagle.  Never saw one here before.


River otter, rarely seen, but frolicking by path.
He has an itch.
A master of the over the shoulder come hither look.













Anyway that's it for this.  Go visit those places.  Worth the trip.







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