Wild Delaware

Today was the first snowfall of the year and, of course, I grabbed my cameras and hit the road. I found a common snipe digging for grubs and foxtail and milkweed covered with snow.

A Red-tailed hawk keeps a sharp eye out for prey over Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

Exploding off the saltmarsh like tiny, feather-covered rockets, a flock of green-winged teal blast off to escape a hawk that passed overhead. Delaware’s smallest duck, teal are very fast and agile flyers and the hawk came up empty.

The strong wind that blew from the west this morning had moved to the north by sunset. A steady 30mph wind made flying difficult and the snow geese were seeking shelter. I found a spot along the edge of a pond and watched as the geese came straight in for a landing. A 600mm lens put me right on the runway with them.

Well, actually they are snow geese but in the cold, dawn light everything takes on a blue cast. These geese are wating for more light from the sunrise in a shallow, fresh-water impoundment at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Then they will leave the refuge and feed in nearby farm fields.