Bluebird Nest Boxes at Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Stephen L Tabone

This afternoon, I joined two other volunteers (Cliff and Tom) at Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area to be trained on how to check and maintain about 15 bluebird boxes located on the 301 acre farm.  We were trained by Kim Hosen, Director of the Prince William Conservation Alliance and Wayne, who maintained the boxes last year.  The bluebird boxes need to be checked once a week for a number of reasons to include removing old nests (bluebirds can raise three broods in a season), nests of other birds using the bluebird boxes, checking for eggs and hatchlings, monitoring fledglings, and checking to see if any predators like snakes, ants, etc. have attacked the nest and the eggs or young birds.

Four of the boxes we checked had 3 to 5 eggs, and one nest had newly hatched bluebirds that we estimated were about 5-7 days old. What we observed at each nest box was recorded in a book that is maintained during the season (April – August).

Spring has definitely arrived in northern Virginia as evidenced by the new bluebird nests and eggs, flowers, and green growth everywhere.  Of course, I shot some photos in between the training; however, I traveled light today (one camera body and all purpose lens (28-300mm VR)–no tripod) since the primary purpose was training. When it is my turn to check the boxes, I will be carrying more gear and be doing some serious photography, so stand by for more photos. The schedule calls for me to check the boxes once in May, June, July, and August.

Some photos from today follow.  The first (and one above) are wild azalea flowers and blooms.

Below is a young black rat snake that we saw on the trail. It was not moving and very still while watching us as we looked at it.  Then, as I moved to get a side shot, it sped off through grass.

We had to remove several wasps and wasp nests.  One of them follows.

We passed an old falling down house on the farm that I had to shoot.

Below, shot with my iPhone, are the five eggs we saw in one of the nests. I had to hold my iPhone in the box above the nest to get this shot, so it is not very good, but you can see the bright blue color of the eggs.

I may be going back to the farm tomorrow (with more gear).  Regardless, I am planning to be there a lot this spring, summer, fall and next winter. What a wonderful place to experience and capture some of nature’s beauty.

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Medical Office Building Photography Project

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Stephen L Tabone

This Sunday, I accompanied the architect (Don Little of Little + Architects) to a three story medical building, that he designed for two orthopedic surgeons, to shoot the interior for him and the doctors.  The building was recently completed, and the doctors moved into the third floor in late March.  The building contains five of my photographs, printed on aluminum and box framed, and hanging in the first floor lobby and on the third floor.

Below are photographs of the first floor main lobby.  The two photographs in the lobby were taken on the Hazel River near Sperryville, VA and are 4′ wide by 6′ tall.

Below is a photograph of the doctors’ patient reception and waiting area on the third floor.  On the far wall are two photos that I shot at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.  Although they look small, they are 4′ wide.  Notice the very unique and contemporary design, by Don Little, of the front desk.

 

To the right in this view (above) is another photo shot on the Hazel River.  It is a smaller (3′ x 2′) version of one of the first floor lobby photos.  Through the entry doors (upper left corner) are two more of my photos hanging in the entrance hallway.  A photo of these images is below.

It was a very rewarding project working with Don, the doctors and their business manager, that is not quite over since additional images will eventually be selected and printed for the second floor.

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Last of the Virginia Bluebells

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Stephen L Tabone

Since it is raining here today and, therefore, not a day to be outside shooting photos, I processed my photographs from Wednesday afternoon at Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area.  The bluebells had reached the peak of their brief flowering period for this spring/year.

Many of the photos from Wednesday are different from my other recent visits to Merrimac to shoot the bluebells, because the clouds opened up to allow a little sunlight, and there was blue in the sky instead of gray clouds.  Of course, the blue sky only appeared as I was leaving, but I managed to get some shots with the blue sky in the background.

Also of interest was a single bluebell plant with white flowers.  Virginia Bluebells with white flowers are very rare.  I did see several bluebell plants with pink flowers among the many thousands of blue ones, but only one with white flowers.  Unfortunately, the bluebell plant with the white flowers was not a very full or large plant, but nevertheless, it was exciting to see at least one.

I created a new gallery on my website for Wednesday’s bluebell photos.  The gallery is located at: http://stabone.com/p50310920  The bluebell plant with the white flowers is last photo in that gallery.  Below are a few of the photos from that gallery.

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Virginia Bluebells at Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Stephen L Tabone

Yesterday afternoon, I met a friend (Ernie Sears) at the Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area to shoot the Virginia Bluebells.  I was there last Saturday morning, but could not resist going again to see and capture this very special event–the bluebells only flower in the spring for about two weeks.

Ernie and I had the 300 acre Farm to ourselves, just as we did Saturday morning.  It was cool and overcast.  It had rained overnight, and the ground/floodplain where the bluebells grow was very wet.  Just like Saturday, there were acres of Virginia Bluebells in small and very large clusters predominantly along and on the banks of Cedar Run.  They grow there because the soil along the creek is very rich from when the creek rises and deposits sediments and nutrients.

I kept saying to myself and to Ernie, when he was nearby, how amazingly beautiful it was to see, and how I not only appreciated the opportunity to see the bluebells, but also to capture them digitally.  The contrast between the rich green foliage of the bluebell plants and their brilliant blue flowers against the otherwise stark leafless trees made for an incredible sight and a perfect photo opportunity.

Below are a few new images from yesterday.  They only capture some of the beauty.  You had to be there to really appreciate the sight, as well as the sound of Cedar Creek flowing rapidly from the rain and of numerous birds chirping and singing in the background.

More photos from yesterday can bee seen at:  http://stabone.com/p1007343060

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Leesylvania Sunrise

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Stephen L Tabone

Rather than go to work today, I stayed home to practice for eventual retirement.  I got up before six, quickly loaded the gear in the car and went to Leesylvania State Park on the Potomac River, about 10 minutes from the house.  We are fortunate to have such beauty so close.

It was heavily overcast, but with slight breaks in the clouds and some orange in the horizon where the rising sun was lighting up the clouds.  I have gotten more spectacular sunrise photos from this location, but today’s were special because they have a bit of an eery look to them, and because some have the bright green color of the new leaves that is beginning to appear in the trees.  The vibrant green is such a welcome sight after the cold almost colorless winter.  Below are a few photos.  More can be viewed at: http://stabone.com/p1051009794/h392dab6c#h392dab6c

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