Eastern Bluebird at Thomas Point

I got a new camera yesterday (Nikon D7100) and tried it out this morning. Unfortunately, it was defective and I had to send it back. The new one will be here soon.
I met Graeme at the 450 bridge, which was very dead, then we went to Thomas Point, which had not a single duck. It was very crowded last year at this time. We then looked around the woods for a while, but only found the usual suspects.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Red Bellied Woodpecker

This Red Bellied Woodpecker flew a circular pattern around us.

White Throated Sparrow

White Throated Sparrow

White Throated Sparrows were foraging in the berry bushes.

White Breasted Nuthatch

White Breasted Nuthatch

I seem to see White Breasted Nuthatches often at Thomas Point.

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebirds are plentiful.

Sanderling at Sandy point

We were promised sunny skies again, but they didn’t appear until 9:30 or so, and my early shots were kind of dim.
After a couple of hours at the 450 bridge, I then went to Sandy Point and saw the buntings, as well as the Sanderling, a life bird.

Cooper's Hawk

This Cooper's Hawk landed right above my head.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

This Great Blue Heron was fishing very successfully in the shallows.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

The Snow Buntings have attracted many bird watchers to the park.

Sanderling 1

Hooded Merganser at Quiet Waters Park

Yesterday, I met Graeme at the 450 Bridge and we looked for eagles without much luck. We also stopped at Quiet Waters and Thomas Point with the same results.
Today I started with Quiet Waters, which was more productive, and ended at Thomas Point, which is still very slow.

Graeme Simpson

Graeme is evaluating the photographic possibilities.

450 Bridge

Dawn at the 450 Bridge.

Bald Eagle

I saw this Bald Eagle flying across South River.

Great Blue Heron

There's always a Great Blue Heron in the cove-I wonder if it's the same one?

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrows often forage among the rocks at Thomas Point.

White Throated Sparrow

This White Throated Sparrow was also foraging at Thomas Point.

Mallard

Mallards are the principal duck at the moment.

Bufflehead

Buffleheads in small flocks remain at Thomas Point.

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser 128

Hooded Merganser

This pair of Hooded Mergansers flew into the cove while I was waiting.

Snow Bunting at Sandy Point

I heard, a few weeks ago, that this is the warmest year on record since 1880, and today seemed to bear it out. It was over 50 degrees and I dressed too warmly.
Snow Buntings had been reported at Sandy point for several days, and I found them easily today. Lovely little birds.
I spent some time on the trails and found a few nice birds. I then went to Thomas Point, which appeared to be dead, but there were hundreds of birds too far out for images.

Northern Mockingbird

You can usually count on Northern Mockingbirds at Sandy Point.

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

This Herring Gull was loafing at Thomas Point.

Winter Wren

Winter Wren

I've only seen a few Winter Wrens, so this was a nice find.

Hermit Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Snow Bunting 106

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting
Snow Bunting 104

Snow Bunting

Bald Eagles at the 450 Bridge

I had planned to go to Sandy Point this morning, but it was closed for some holiday, so I tried Jonas Green Park and the 450 bridge.
There wasn’t much at Jonas Green, but the eagles at the bridge were very active.

Muscovy Duck

This Muscovy Duck has been hanging out at Jonas Green for at least two years.

Mockingbird

This Mockingbird was feeding at the pond adjacent to Jonas Green Park.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Several Great Blue Herons are regulars at the bridge.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

I saw at least 6 Bald Eagles this morning.

Red Breasted Merganser at Thomas Point

It was very cloudy this morning, so I didn’t leave the house ’til 8:30. That worked out, as Thomas Point was pretty dead through 9:00. A few swans passed over, an eagle was perched in the trees, and several small flocks of Buffleheads were in the area. The Merganser was a singleton, and first of the season.

Ring Billed Gull

Only a few Ring Billed Gulls were in the area.

Tundra Swan 79

Tundra Swan

Tundra Swans tend to stay near the shore, where many locals feed them.

Red Breasted Merganser

This Red Breasted Merganser flew by very quickly, and I didn't recognize it until I checked it on the LCD screen.

Dark Eyed Junco at Thomas Point

The weatherman seems to be getting worse. I had planned a day off due to rain and clouds but we got partly cloudy and sunny.
I went right to Thomas Point, but the migrating ducks just aren’t here in numbers yet. I looked in the woods for a while without finding much, and called it a day.

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

You're almost guaranteed to find Song Sparrows at the point.

White Breasted Nuthatch

You'll almost always hear the White Breasted Nuthatch before you see him.

Dark Eyed Junco

A small flock of Dark Eyed Juncos seems to winter at the point.

Ring Billed Gull

Only a few Ring Billed Gulls were around.

Bufflehead

Buffleheads are the only ducks currently in residence.

White Breasted Nuthatch at Thomas Point

The weatherman got it wrong again. “Sunny” was “Dark and Cloudy”, making for poor lighting.
I started at Quiet Waters, which is getting more active, then went on to Thomas Point, which was nearly dead. I expect we’ll be seeing more ducks soon, however.

Horned Grebe

Two Horned Grebes were feeding near the cove.

Hooded Merganser

A pair of Hooded Mergansers were swimming slowly in the cove.

Dark Eyed Junco

This Dark Eyed Junco posed for me at Thomas Point.

White Breasted Nuthatch

This White Breasted Nuthatch was very active, and it was difficult to get any shot at all.

Bald Eagles at the 450 Bridge

I had planned to go elsewhere this morning, but I decided on a quick trip to the bridge to see if my luck would improve. There were easily 5-6 eagles perched near the road, and they stayed in the area for a while.
Graeme and I then went to Quiet Waters, where we found a few more birds, but no ducks.

Belted Kingfisher

This Belted Kingfisher put on a show for us at Quiet Waters.

Great Blue Heron

We flushed this Great Blue Heron, who stayed in the tree quite a while.

Goldfinch

A lone Goldfinch was feeding in the cove.

Ring Billed Gull

Ring Billed Gull

Ring Billed Gull

There were about 10 Ring Billed Gulls feeding in the shallows at the bridge.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Walk west from the bridge and you may find Bald Eagles in the trees.

Cedar Waxwing at Thomas Point

I went back to the 450 bridge again this morning, but didn’t do as well as the first time. I did notice that the eagles were very active at low tide, and it would probably be worth going back n a few days when low tide is a little later in the day.
Graeme and I then went to Thomas Point, which was pretty much a bust except for a few Cedar Waxwings.

Bald Eagle

There's plenty of Bald Eagles, but they were most active in the low light of morning.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Herons are very active near the bridge.

Cedar Waxwing

We found a small flock of Cedar Waxwings at Thomas Point.