The forecast was for partly cloudy, but we got all cloudy. I headed out to Governor Bridge anyway, but it was almost dead. I took a couple of photos, then decided to give it up, (It was cold).
Jonas Green Park is on the way home, so I made a quick stop, and found a few ducks, so it was worth the trip.

An old photo I re-worked.

An old photo I re-worked.

An old photo I re-worked.

An old photo I re-worked.

An old photo I re-worked.

A Beaver has been at work here.

I’ll be looking for examples of fungi.

I like the light on this Carolina Wren.

This Song Sparrow was the only sparrow who would pose.

This is the first Common Goldeneye I’ve seen at Jonas Green.

There were only a few Ruddy Ducks around.

The weatherman called for rain this morning, but the Sun was coming out around 8:00, so I went to Thomas Point, followed by Hillsmere Elementary, then Quiet Waters. Birding was extremely slow, so I turned over a few logs, looking for signs of life.

Buffleheads seem to be the first ducks to arrive.

Tundra Swans will be here for a while.

My first Canvasbacks of the season.

I’m told these might be Salamander eggs.

Today’s miscellaneous.

After consulting with the guys at AABC, I decided to head to Sands Road and check out the owl possibilities. Very little materialized, possibly because there were so many raptors in the area.
I then headed to Jug Bay, where most of the birds were too distant for good photos, but I did find a few who cooperated.

This Ring Billed Gull flew quite close. I’m not a gull guy, but they do pose nicely for flight shots.

This Hermit Thrush was out in the open, unlike most I’ve seen.

This Goldfinch is not as dull as many at this time of year.

Several Double Crested Cormorants were flying up and down the river.

I can’t quite tell what this Crow is carrying.

These Tundra Swans flew right over my head, and I missed the best shot.

This Bald Eagle is immature (Less than 5 years old).

I think this is a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk.

The continuing Snowy Owl hunt led me to Terrapin Nature Park and the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center today. The habitat is perfect, and some owls have been spotted, but it wasn’t my day.
I did get some other very nice birds, however, and my best BH Nuthatch to date.

A very handsome White Throated Sparrow.

I was a little surprised to see this Ruby Crowned Kinglet so late in the year.

This Red Bellied Woodpecker was foraging at Terrapin.

I spooked this Great Blue Heron at CBEC.

Another Cardinal in good light.

The Brown Headed Nuthatch usually stays high in the trees, so I was lucky to find this pair excavating a nest hole.

This Blue Jay appears to be fluffed up against the cold.

I followed this Belted Kingfisher long enough to get a flight shot.

Bald Eagle are easy to find at this time of year.

Yellow Rumped Warblers are still hanging in there.

What happened here?

I left early in the rain and gloom to seek a Snowy Owl, but had no luck. Several have been reported nearby, but it’s going to take some luck to find one.
There were a few birds at Thomas Point and I’m posting the best shots.

These beautiful Tundra Swans will be with us for while.

This Red Breasted Merganser seemed to be solo. There are plenty of Buffleheads at the point.

After a cloudy, foggy start, the weather got clearer and warmer, so I headed to to Thomas it to see what might be there. I saw a Swan fly over, and a few Bufflehead, but not much else.
I then stopped at Hillsmere Elementary and Quiet Waters in hopes of finding a Snowy Owl, but none were to be seen. A friend reported a snowy was seen in Hillsmere on Monday, but a quick run through the neighborhood turned up nada.
I turned over a few logs at Quiet Waters, and found a few bugs.

This little rock at Thomas Point often hosts a Double Crested Cormorant.

This Ring Billed Gull seemed to be by himself.

This flock of Lesser Scaup was well off the point.

This Northern Cardinal was the only bird I found at Hillsmere Elementary.

Today’s Bugs.

The Snowy Owl Hunt continues. One bird was reported at Bombay Hook, so I headed there early this morning. A visitor did see it, but I was not as lucky. Still there were lots of nice birds, although the light was poor.

Green Winged Teal

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Bufflehead and Ruddy Duck

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

American Black Duck

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Snow Goose

Snow Goose

Snow Goose

Snow Goose

Savannah Sparrow

Pied Billed Grebe

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler

Northern Pintail

Northern Harrier

Mallard

Mallard

Green Winged Teal

Green Winged Teal

Green Winged Teal

Green Winged Teal

I hit Jonas Green Park early, then headed to Greenbury, all the while watching for the flash of white that might indicate a Snowy Owl. No luck on the owl front, ‘though I may head out in search tomorrow.
No remarkable finds today, so I’ll just present the images.

Today was monthly chore day, so I only got out for a little while. Thomas Point is nearby, so I in for a little while and found a few decent, but distant birds. I made a quick stop at Quiet Waters on the way home, but didn’t get any good shots.

You can often find a Bald Eagle in this tree.

These Tundra Swans flew right over the point.

First of Season Red Breasted Merganser.

This Great Blue Heron was fishing at Quiet Waters.

This Double Crested Cormorant stayed on this perch for a long time.