Wilson’s Snipe at Oxbow Lake

The great Snipe hunt is over at last! My email list reported Wilson’s Snipes at Oxbow Lake near Fort Meade, so I went to take a look and they were there and cooperative. Fellow birders Neil and Emily were there as well, and we enjoyed the bounty together. Neil used his phone to call up a Winter Wren, which was a nice bonus.

Emily

Emily went into the marsh to flush the Snipes.

Wilson's Snipe

Wilson's Snipe

Wilson's Snipe

Wilson's Snipe

Wilson's Snipe

There were probably 75 of these birds in the marsh grass, but they were very hard to see.
Cornell:
“A common shorebird of wet, grassy spots, the Wilson’s Snipe has an extremely long bill that it uses to probe in the mud for small invertebrates. Its camouflage is so good that it often is not seen before it flushes from the grass.”

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

This is the first time I’ve seen a Great Blue Heron with a frog.

Blue Winged Teal

Blue Winged Teal

A small flock of Blue Winged Teals was dabbling in the marsh.

Canada Goose

As I walked through the marsh, I disturbed a Canada Goose on her nest.

Winter Wren

Winter Wren

Winter Wren

Winter Wren

Neil used the Ibird app on his phone to call this Winter Wren.

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern 14

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern 16

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern

Caspian Tern

It’s very entertaining to watch a Caspian Tern hunt fish.