Common Goldeneye at Jonas Green Park

It was cold this morning. The clear skies helped me get motivated to check out the scene anyway, and I started at Jonas Green Park, where there wasn’t much to see, but one duck made it worthwhile.
I got to Thomas Point around 9:30, and found a few close-in ducks, and some further out who were interesting.
A couple of fellow birders chatted a while, and I went home when the cold started seeping into my bones.
Common Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

I’ve seen a lot of Common Goldeneyes lately.

Long Tailed Duck

This Long Tailed Duck is a hen. There was a drake, but too distant for a good photo.

Double Crested Cormorant

I have’t seen a Double Crested Cormorant in a while.

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

I don’t often get this close to a Bufflehead.

Gull vs. Heron at Quiet Waters

With temps in the 40s and bright sunshine, I decided to try Quiet Waters early. I happened on a few nice birds and a silent battle over a good sized fish that was fun to watch.
I spent a few minutes at Thomas Point as well, but there were very few birds around.

Bruise

I was carrying my tripod over my left shoulder when I fell, causing a spectacular bruise.

Ring Billed Gull

Ring Billed Gull

Ring Billed Gull

Ring Billed Gull

Ring Billed Gull

This Gull found a fish much too large for him to carry away.

Great Blue Heron 168

Great Blue Heron 167

Ring Billed Gull 53

Ring Billed Gull 52

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

This Great Blue Heron was more than up to the challenge.

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser 104Hooded Merganser

Downy 144Downy Woodpecker
Canvasback

Canvasback

I believe this is the first time I’ve seen Canvasbacks at Quiet Waters.

Long Tailed Duck at Thomas Point

I decided to give it a try this morning-it’s boring sitting around waiting to heal. I had to do everything one-handed, but I found a couple of birds to make it worthwhile.

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

This Bufflehead took off as I was watching him.

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrows were singing loudly.


Long Tailed Duck
Long Tailed Duck

I saw many more Long Tailed Ducks last year than this year.

Hazardous Birding

I’ve been out of action for a few days as I managed to slip on the ice and pull a muscle in my left arm. Looking back, it was quite foolish to try walking in those conditions, and I hope I’ve Learned my lesson.
Here’s a few images from previous days.

Red Necked Grebe 8

Bufflehead 130

Hooded Merganser 103

Ruddy Duck 60

Surf Scoter 60

Bald Eagle 280

Bald Eagle 281

Ring Necked Duck 22

Tundra Swan 68

White Winged Scoter 3

White Winged Scoter 5

Belted Kingfisher 91

White Winged Scoter at Thomas Point

The weatherman had promised clear and warm but we got rain instead. I ran some errands I’ve been avoiding and managed to get out to Thomas Point early this afternoon. It didn’t look very promising, but a few decent birds turned up, even though they were a bit distant.

Lesser  Scaup

There weren’t many ducks at the point, and Lesser Scaups were dominant

Surf Scoter

I only saw one Surf Scoter.

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

This Song Sparrow was feeding right in front of me.

Bufflehead

Even Buffleheads were in short supply.

Common Goldeneye

Three female Common Goldeneyes were foraging together.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

This Bald Eagle was a beautiful sight against the bkue sky.

Tundra Swan

A small group of Tundra Swans was feeding in the cove.

White Winged Scoter

White Winged Scoter

I haven’t seen many White Winged Scoters, so I wasn’t sure what this was at first.

Fungus

Fungus

Fungus on trees near the point.

Brown Headed Nuthatch at CBEC

It’s Tuesday, so Thomas Point and Quiet Waters are closed. I decided to make the same circuit, and got to Jonas Green about 8:30. It was devoid of ducks, so Kent Narrows was next. The Narrows is ice-free, but the ducks just weren’t there. CBEC was much better, but it was a slower day than I had hoped.

Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

I waited about half an hour after I heard this Belted Kingfisher to catch him in flight.

Rock Dove

Another very cold Rock Dove.

Turkey Vulture

A good shot of this Turkey Vulture drying his wings.

Ring Billed Gull

I took this Ring Billed Gull shot while waiting for the Kingfisher.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Red Bellied Woodpecker

The light was perfect for this Red Bellied Woodpecker.

Black Backed Seagull

This Black Backed Seagull was resting.

Cardinal

Cardinals are singing everywhere.

Red Tailed Hawk

I haven’t seen a Red Tailed Hawk in a while.

Brown Headed Nuthatch

Brown Headed Nuthatch

Brown Headed Nuthatch

Brown Headed Nuthatch

Brown Headed Nuthatch

I was lucky to catch these small, quick Brown Headed Nuthatches in good light.

Bufflehead at Kent Narrows

The morning was very cold, but the light was decent enough, so I headed to Jonas Green with no real plan in mind. Thomas Point and Sandy Point are still closed because of the snow, and Jonas Green was a disappointment, with very few birds. After a short while I went to Kent Narrows, which was much better, then CBEC, which was barren.

Tracks

Tracks in the snow.

Canvasback

Canvasback

Canvasback

The water colors complement this Canvasback.

American Coot

American Coot

American Coot

There were more American Coots than usual.

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Buffleheads seem to be pairing off.

Lesser  Scaup

Lesser Scaup were plentiful.

Hooded Merganser at Schoolhouse Pond

I’ve been hearing good things about Schoolhouse Pond for a while, so I decided to make the trek to Upper Marlboro.
The lake was mostly frozen over, but a small open area held a few birds, and the surrounding woods looked promising.
I’m sure I’ll go back when the weather breaks a bit.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

This Great Blue Heron let me get very close.

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

These Hooded Mergansers stayed at the far end of the open water.

Bald Eagle

These distant Bald Eagles were looking over the breakfast menu on the lake.

Hermit Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Hermit Thrush

This Hermit Thrush posed very nicely.

Red Shouldered Hawk

Red Shouldered Hawk

This Red Shouldered Hawk landed right over my head.

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

I haven’t seen a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker in several weeks.

Northern Shoveller

Northern Shoveller

I haven’t seen many Northern Shovellers outside of Blackwater.

Northern Shoveller 26

Northern Cardinal

This Northern Cardinal was singing loudly.

Carolina Wren

This Carolina Wren was foraging vigorously.

American Coot

There were only two American Coots.

Red Breasted Merganser at Kent Narrows

There was a lot of snow on the ground, but the light was good and the temps were more than tolerable, so I headed to Jonas Green, with the intention of hitting Thomas Point afterward.
The park ranger told me Thomas Point was closed, so I took a few decent shots and went to Kent Narrows, where the variety was limited, but the light was very good.

Yellow  Rumped Warbler

Yellow  Rumped Warbler

Yellow  Rumped Warbler

A pair of Yellow Rumped Warblers was foraging in the snow.

Ruddy Duck

I don’t often try landscapes, but the ducks in the foreground inspired me.

Red Breasted Merganser

Red Breasted Merganser

Red Breasted Merganser

Red Breasted Merganser

There were a few hundred ducks around, but this was the only Red Breasted Merganser I saw.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Kent Narrows seems to be a good place for Great Blue Heron close ups.

Mallard

Mallard

There’s always a few Mallards around.

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

This Bufflehead was having a nice nap.

Cardinal

I haven’t gotten a good Cardinal in a while.

Canvasback

Canvasback

I like the light on these Canvasbacks.

Lesser  Scaup

Lesser Scaups were the dominant duck.

American Coot

American Coots seem to like Kent Narrows.

Gull

I’m not sure what this Gull is carrying.

Long Tailed Duck at Jonas Green Park

It was very cold this morning;around 20 degrees. I went to Jonas Green Park around 7:30 and was lucky to find my FOS Long Tail. There were a few other nice birds around, but at a distance.
I then went to Thomas Point and got a few goods shots, but it was way too cold to stay long.

Hooded Merganser 96

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

I don’t often see Hooded Merganser females without a male.

Song Sparrow

I took this Song Sparrow image with my 300mm lens.

Lesser  Scaup

Lesser  Scaup

The light at Jonas Green compliments this Lesser Scaup.

Long Tailed Duck

Long Tailed Duck

This Long Tailed Duck was a little too distant for a good image.

Canvasback

Canvasback

This Canvasback was at Jonas Green.

Bufflehead

Buffleheads were in small numbers, as usual.

Ruddy Duck

A few Ruddy Ducks paddled in close to shore.

Horned Grebe

This Horned Grebe has been at the point for several days.

American Kestrel

This American Kestrel is from my Blackwater trip.