Close Encounters: Bald eagles spotted in Kempsville area of Virginia Beach

Denise Maples has noticed an increase in eagle activity this spring in her neighborhood in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach. “Tonight I heard the familiar cry and looked up and saw one eagle land in a tree and then a second one flew in right beside,” wrote Maples.

Robin Talbot sent a photo of an immature bald eagle perched in a backyard pine tree in Ocean Lakes in Virginia Beach.

Michael Schimmel photographed a pair of ospreys that have taken up a nest near the top of a pine tree at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach.

A pair of ospreys take up a nest near the top of a pine tree in First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach. (Courtesy of Michael Schimmel)

Woody Stephens sent a photo of a pair of ospreys that have returned to the nest off Thalia Island in Virginia Beach. “As of this morning, it appears there may be at least one egg in the nest,” wrote Stephens.

Kristin West sent a photo of a great egret in the Mirasol neighborhood in Virginia Beach. The egret “was tired of me inching closer for a better photo,” wrote West. “After 30 minutes, I was given a ‘look.’”

A great egret gives the "look" in the Mirasol neighborhood in Virginia Beach. (Courtesy of Kristin West)

Steve Daniel photographed a pair of little blue herons at Pleasure House Point in Virginia Beach. Little blue herons are a small slate-colored heron with greenish legs.

Jonathan Snyder photographed an American oystercatcher at the fourth island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Northampton County. The oystercatcher is easily identified by its red-yellow eye and orange-red bill.

An American oystercatcher hangs out at the fourth island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Northampton County. (Courtesy of Jonathan Snyder)

Connie Owen spotted a ruddy turnstone feeding along the shoreline on her boat trip to Wreck Island off the coast of Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Ruddy turnstones are orange and black with orange legs, the colors of a calico cat.

A ruddy turnstone feeds along the shoreline at Wreck Island off the coast of Virginia’s Eastern Shore. (Courtesy of Connie Owen)

Mike Earp got his ducks (mallards) in a row on the beach at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach. Mallard ducks keep their tails out of the water in case danger approaches for an immediate flight response.

Reuben Rohn sent a photo of a pair of greater yellowlegs that he observed feeding in the shallow water at Willis Wharf in Northampton County on the Eastern Shore.

A pair of greater yellowlegs feed in the shallow water at Willis Wharf in Northampton County on the Eastern Shore. (Courtesy of Reuben Rohn)

Frank Daman got a close-up photo of a Cooper’s hawk that hung around on his fence in Kempsville Greens in Virginia Beach. “He had apparently gotten a dove in the yard earlier and had come back looking for more,” wrote Daman.

Benjamin Gerber sent a photo of a male Brewer’s blackbird in his backyard in the Western Branch neighborhood in Chesapeake.

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Bob Marchant got a photo of a male turkey with his feathers fanned out on his trail camera in Waverly.

Cindy Hamilton sent a photo of an ovenbird at Stumpy Lake in Virginia Beach that was showing off his handsome gold-and-black striped crown. “This species gets its name from the shape of the nest that it builds on the forest floor,” wrote Hamilton. “The nest looks like a Dutch oven.”

An ovenbird shows off his gold-and-black striped crown at Stumpy Lake in Virginia Beach. (Courtesy of Cindy Hamilton)

Marianne Seibel photographed a female goldfinch in her backyard in Thoroughgood in Virginia Beach.

Jan Eaton discovered a black rat snake “all cozied up” in one of her birdhouses in Lake Shores in Virginia Beach. “Amazing how it can contort its body like that and squeeze itself into a small birdhouse!” wrote Eaton.

William Walker spotted a possum family at Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach. A momma possum was carrying her babies on her back while walking down the trail.

Laura Joksaite photographed a muskrat that was enjoying munching on ivy leaves in the channel in front of her house in the Robinhood Forest area of Virginia Beach. “I was so amazed seeing these nails,” wrote Joksaite.

A muskrat enjoys eating ivy leaves in a channel in the Robinhood Forest area of Virginia Beach. (Courtesy of Laura Joksaite)

Vickie Shufer, wildfood@cox.net