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| Christmas Holiday Season for Bird Watchers |
In the Christmas Holiday Season, more than 20,000 fishing bird congregate on the Susquehanna River near
Highway 1 just below the Conowingo Dam in northern Maryland, USA to feast on the abundance of fish here.
They include seagulls, bald eagles (鵰), herons, cormorants, etc.
Highway 1 just below the Conowingo Dam in northern Maryland, USA to feast on the abundance of fish here.
They include seagulls, bald eagles (鵰), herons, cormorants, etc.
One of many bald eagles (鵰) in flight over Susquehanna River looking for fish. In such Christmas Holiday
Season, as many as 100 bald eagles have been sighted in this area catching fish. Bald eagles are big birds
with wing span up to 8 feet. In addition to some resident bald eagles in this area, many more bald eagles from
northern Canada and Alaska migrate south in the winter season to this area to join the local bald eagles to
feast on the abundance of fish.
Season, as many as 100 bald eagles have been sighted in this area catching fish. Bald eagles are big birds
with wing span up to 8 feet. In addition to some resident bald eagles in this area, many more bald eagles from
northern Canada and Alaska migrate south in the winter season to this area to join the local bald eagles to
feast on the abundance of fish.
Another bald eagle in flight over the Susquehanna River fishing
The bald eagles are all over the places in this area in the winter season. Therefore, in such cold winter days,
the bird watchers do not stay indoor, but come out to areas like this one to watch many majestic bald eagles
in action catching fish.
On December 6, 2007, we drove 2 hours from Mid New Jersey to come to this area of Susquehanna River in
northern Maryland to enjoy watching many bald eagles in action.
the bird watchers do not stay indoor, but come out to areas like this one to watch many majestic bald eagles
in action catching fish.
On December 6, 2007, we drove 2 hours from Mid New Jersey to come to this area of Susquehanna River in
northern Maryland to enjoy watching many bald eagles in action.
Some bald eagles are perching on the trees near the Susquehanna River
Six bald eagles are perching in the mid-section of a large steel tower of high-voltage electric power line in the
middle of the Susquehanna River. Some more bald eagles are on the upper section of this tall and large steel
tower.
middle of the Susquehanna River. Some more bald eagles are on the upper section of this tall and large steel
tower.
Some bald eagles stand on the rocks on the river side
This bald eagle just got a big fish from the Susquehanna River and flew here to land on the tree to prepare to
eat the big fish. This photo is taken by May Lee.
eat the big fish. This photo is taken by May Lee.
The bald eagle is working on the fish
Another bald eagle on another tree eating another fish
This bald eagle just got a fish from the Susquehanna River and was flying into the woods to eat the fish. This
action photo is taken by May Lee.
action photo is taken by May Lee.
This bald eagle barely above the river surface just got a fish from the river.
December 6, 2007 was a cold day with air temperature hovering between 29 to 34 degrees Fahrenheit around
the freezing point. We had to put on our heavy winter coat and had heavy warm glove on our hands to be able
to stay outdoor for hours watching these fishing birds in action. With the heavy glove, my finger lost its sensitive
and close touch with the shutter button of the camera such that some of these action photos were not very well
focused. We just did our best to take these action photos in such freezing cold weather.
December 6, 2007 was a cold day with air temperature hovering between 29 to 34 degrees Fahrenheit around
the freezing point. We had to put on our heavy winter coat and had heavy warm glove on our hands to be able
to stay outdoor for hours watching these fishing birds in action. With the heavy glove, my finger lost its sensitive
and close touch with the shutter button of the camera such that some of these action photos were not very well
focused. We just did our best to take these action photos in such freezing cold weather.
Another bald eagle in flight got a fish in its talons.
Two of many herons in flight over the Susquehanna River. In addition to bald eagle, there are several other
kinds of fishing birds in this area catching fish.
kinds of fishing birds in this area catching fish.
Many seagulls far away and seen as many tiny white dots on the rocks in this busy fishing area.
After coming down through the large hydroelectric turbines in the Conowingo Dam, the water rush out from
under the dam creating powerful turbulent water near the base of dam. Many fish coming through the
hydroelectric turbines and the powerful turbulent water are stunned or injured by such powerful turbulence and
become easy targets for these fishing birds to catch. This is one of the reasons that so many fishing birds (>
20,000) congregate at this area to feast on the abundance of fish. The second reason is that the powerful
turbulent water from the dam prevents the water from freezing up in the winter so that many fish remain
accessible by these fishing birds in the winter in this area.
Note: The release of water from Conowingo Dam is intermittent, not continuous all the time. When the water is
not flowing out from the dam, many fishing birds are standing on the rocks, or perching on the trees or on the
steel tower waiting for action. The dam will sound the alarm siren and have red lights flashing twice before it
starts to release the powerful and turbulent water. When this happens, more than 20,000 fishing birds take to
the air for action to catch fish. Therefore, it is worthwhile to stay in this area long enough to see such fantastic
action event with huge number of fishing birds in the air.
under the dam creating powerful turbulent water near the base of dam. Many fish coming through the
hydroelectric turbines and the powerful turbulent water are stunned or injured by such powerful turbulence and
become easy targets for these fishing birds to catch. This is one of the reasons that so many fishing birds (>
20,000) congregate at this area to feast on the abundance of fish. The second reason is that the powerful
turbulent water from the dam prevents the water from freezing up in the winter so that many fish remain
accessible by these fishing birds in the winter in this area.
Note: The release of water from Conowingo Dam is intermittent, not continuous all the time. When the water is
not flowing out from the dam, many fishing birds are standing on the rocks, or perching on the trees or on the
steel tower waiting for action. The dam will sound the alarm siren and have red lights flashing twice before it
starts to release the powerful and turbulent water. When this happens, more than 20,000 fishing birds take to
the air for action to catch fish. Therefore, it is worthwhile to stay in this area long enough to see such fantastic
action event with huge number of fishing birds in the air.
One eagle perching on the tree.
A second bald eagle flew in to try to land on the first bald eagle on the tree.
The first bald eagle was forced to fly away from the tree when a second eagle tried to land on the same spot
on the tree. This second eagle looks like an immature bald eagle or a golden eagle without white feather on the
head or the tail.
on the tree. This second eagle looks like an immature bald eagle or a golden eagle without white feather on the
head or the tail.
This bald eagle was settling down on the tree.
So, in the Christmas Holiday Season, many bald eagles and millions of snow geese from arctic area come with
Santa Claus to our area in US eastern seaboard. Many bird watchers are happily going outdoor, even though
the weather is cold, to watch these large number of visiting and interesting birds from the north.
We went to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Delaware on December 4, 2006 to watch huge
number of snow geese, to Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico in February 2006 to watch huge number of
sandhill cranes and snow geese, to Salton Sea NWR in southeast California in November 2006 to watch many
pelicans, snow geese and other birds, and to Barnegat Inlet in New Jersey in February 2007 to see many
colorful waterfowl.
The Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware is only about one hour driving distance from the Susquehanna River in
Maryland. It is possible to watch the bald eagles in action at Susquehanna River, then go to see huge number
of snow geese in Bombay Hook NWR in a one-day trip in the winter season.
So, in the Christmas Holiday Season, many bald eagles and millions of snow geese from arctic area come with
Santa Claus to our area in US eastern seaboard. Many bird watchers are happily going outdoor, even though
the weather is cold, to watch these large number of visiting and interesting birds from the north.
We went to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Delaware on December 4, 2006 to watch huge
number of snow geese, to Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico in February 2006 to watch huge number of
sandhill cranes and snow geese, to Salton Sea NWR in southeast California in November 2006 to watch many
pelicans, snow geese and other birds, and to Barnegat Inlet in New Jersey in February 2007 to see many
colorful waterfowl.
The Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware is only about one hour driving distance from the Susquehanna River in
Maryland. It is possible to watch the bald eagles in action at Susquehanna River, then go to see huge number
of snow geese in Bombay Hook NWR in a one-day trip in the winter season.
Locations and Directions:
There is a paved parking lot along the south-west side of the river bank of Susquehanna River for watching bald
eagles in action over the Susquehanna River. This paved parking lot is near the Conowingo Village in Darlington,
Maryland where Highway 1 crosses over the Susquehanna River. There are ample parking space, picnic tables
and public toilet facilities here for bird watchers. It is about 45 miles north-east of Baltimore and about 5 miles
south of the Pennsylvania border. The directions to this paved parking lot from New Jersey are:
1. Take Interstate Highway 95 south and when near Craigtown in Maryland take the Exit 93 for Highway 222
2. Go north-west on Highway 222 (Susquehanna River Road) along north-east shore of Susquehanna River for
about 10 miles
3. At Junction of Highway 222 and Highway 1 (Conowingo Road), turn south-west into Highway 1 to go
south-west over Susquehanna River
4. Shortly after crossing over Susquehanna River, turn left (south-west) into Shuresville Road
5. Go south-west on Shuresville Road for about 0.5 miles
6. Make a sharp left (east) turn into Shures Landing Road which is a small, steep and winding road to go down
to the paved parking lot on the river bank. (Note: there are several houses as landmarks at the junction of
Shuresville Road and Shures Landing Road for making the turn).
Note: Susquehanna River is a large and wide river somewhat similar to the Hudson River. The width of the river
is about one mile in this area. One needs a good binocular to see well and a powerful optical zoom in the
camera to take good photos of the bald eagles in action over such a wide river. My camera has 12X optical
zoom.
There is a paved parking lot along the south-west side of the river bank of Susquehanna River for watching bald
eagles in action over the Susquehanna River. This paved parking lot is near the Conowingo Village in Darlington,
Maryland where Highway 1 crosses over the Susquehanna River. There are ample parking space, picnic tables
and public toilet facilities here for bird watchers. It is about 45 miles north-east of Baltimore and about 5 miles
south of the Pennsylvania border. The directions to this paved parking lot from New Jersey are:
1. Take Interstate Highway 95 south and when near Craigtown in Maryland take the Exit 93 for Highway 222
2. Go north-west on Highway 222 (Susquehanna River Road) along north-east shore of Susquehanna River for
about 10 miles
3. At Junction of Highway 222 and Highway 1 (Conowingo Road), turn south-west into Highway 1 to go
south-west over Susquehanna River
4. Shortly after crossing over Susquehanna River, turn left (south-west) into Shuresville Road
5. Go south-west on Shuresville Road for about 0.5 miles
6. Make a sharp left (east) turn into Shures Landing Road which is a small, steep and winding road to go down
to the paved parking lot on the river bank. (Note: there are several houses as landmarks at the junction of
Shuresville Road and Shures Landing Road for making the turn).
Note: Susquehanna River is a large and wide river somewhat similar to the Hudson River. The width of the river
is about one mile in this area. One needs a good binocular to see well and a powerful optical zoom in the
camera to take good photos of the bald eagles in action over such a wide river. My camera has 12X optical
zoom.
More photos of bald eagles in action at Susquehanna River are available on May Lee's web page at:
http://mayleesart.com/BaldEagleCono.html
http://mayleesart.com/BaldEagleCono.html
More photos and stories of bald eagles in action at several different locations are available on my web page at:
http://www.shltrip.com/Bald_Eagle.html
http://www.shltrip.com/Bald_Eagle.html
Another eagle in flight over Susquehanna River
Three bald eagles fishing over the river.
A bald eagle flying under the trees.
A bald eagle in flight over Susquehanna River.
A bald eagle in flight over Susquehanna River, two more are further away on upper left corner of this photo.
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