Fox Sparrow at Terrapin Nature Park.

The sunrise was a little better than average this morning. but it could be better. Perhaps the cold weather will help.

Terrapin continues to be sketchy. In past years it was easy to find small birds in every bush, but, so far, they’ve been sparse.  It’s  still early for ducks, but I’ve seen more in past years. I went to Thomas Point yesterday and found only a few distant birds.

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Sunrise at Sandy Point.

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This juvenile Bald Eagle was watching over the marsh pond.

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This Great Blue Heron was fishing among the Mallards.

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Red Bellied Woodpeckers have been scarce this year.

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This Fox Sparrow was the first bird I saw at Terrapin.

 

 

Bald Eagle at Lake Artemesia.

 

Back to Artemesia this morning.  It seems to me there were more birds in the local spots in previous years, but not so far.

Artemesia is still busy, but there should be more variety. Where are the mergansers?

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Sandy Point in the morning.

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The bridge at lake Artemesia.

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I think there are more Ring Necked Ducks than usual this year.

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The Wood Ducks were in Indian Creek this morning.

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The Ruddy Ducks were very sleepy this morning.

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This Great Blue heron was very intent on his fishing.

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I just barely caught this Bald Eagle as he flew over.

Wood Duck at Lake Artemesia.

I started out early yesterday morning, only to turn around after a few minutes when it started raining. Today was drier, but very cloudy, and it was hard to get really good images.

There were plenty of interesting birds around, but I’m going to try again tomorrow to see if others will show up.

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A small flock of Ruddy Docks has been around for a week or more.

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2-3 flocks of Ring Necked Ducks seem to be spending the winter.

 

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I’m seeing Pied Billed Grebes most places I go.

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I found this Bald Eagle a couple of days ago at Jug Bay.

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It’s easier to find Wood Ducks at Artemesia in the morning.

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It’s easier to find Wood Ducks at Artemesia in the morning.

 

Black Ducks at Terrapin Nature Park.

Why are Winter sunrises better than other seasons? I don;’t know, but it seems to be true. Not great today, but not bad.

I went back to the Eastern Shore in hopes of seeing some improvement, but it was not to be. Terrapin had little variety, and CBEC had many ducks too distant for good photos.

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Sunrise at Sandy Point.

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Swamp Sparrows do well at CBEC.

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This is the season for White Throated Sparrows.

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I saw several Ruby Crowned Kinglets.

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This Eastern Bluebird was at CBEC.

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15 or more Black Ducks were swimming with the geese at Terrapin.

 

Gadwall at Jonas Greene Park.

It was seriously windy this morning, but not really cold yet.  Sunrise was better than average, but I was surprised how few birds there were on the beach. Three foxes were having some fun, though.

I stopped at Jonas Greene Park to kill a little time before running errands, and found a few nice ducks in the little pond adjacent to the park. It’s been a reliable spot in the past, as well.

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Sunrise at Sandy Point.

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These Canada Geese look like they’re waiting for a bus.

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I don’t see Gadwalls very often.

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Wood Ducks are regulars in the pond.

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Three Foxes were playing near the water tower.

Carolina Wren at Lake Artemesia.

Back to lake Artemesia for another try, and it worked out OK.  There’s still plenty of ducks and other birds around, if not as much variety as I’d like. Graeme joined me, and may have brought me some good luck.

Buddy Attick was a near bust again.

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A view of Lake Artemesia.

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It was a good day for Cardinals.

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I saw this Great Blue Heron just in time for a quick picture.

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A small flock of Ruddy Ducks is staying at the lake.

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this Downy Woodpecker was very cooperative.,

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Many Herring Gulls were feeding.

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There always seems to be 6-8 Pied Billed Grebes nearby.

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I got a little closer to the Ring Necked Ducks today.

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It was a good day for Northern Flickers also.

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We saw Wood Ducks as soon as we arrived.

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I haven’t gotten a good Carolina Wren image in a while.

 

 

Ring Necked Duck at Lake Artemesia.

Given the disappointing results around here, I went back to Artemesia again, despite the traffic.

While it wasn’t great, I did get a few good images. I also stopped At Buddy Attick again, with no results. Graeme told me it got lively about a half hour after I left.

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I found this Downy Woodpecker near Indian Creek.

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A small flock of Ruddy Ducks is still in residence.

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This Eastern Towhee was a nice find.

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Several Mallards flew over the lake.

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I found these Wood Ducks as I arrived.

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Two flocks of Ring Necked Ducks were feeding in the lake.

 

Brown Pelican at Beverly Triton Beach.

I heard there were some Pelicans in Edgewater, and I hadn’t been there in several years, so I went early this morning. It’s one of those places where you have to wait for someone to open the gate, and they were late, so I climbed the fence.

I walked the 200 yard beach without seeing much except gulls and herons, then I noticed a fishing weir some ways out, and there was a Brown Pelican perched on it. Not a great shot, but I’ll take it as we don’t usually get a lot of Pelicans. I found a few small birds in the beach grass, and several Flickers as well.

A later stop at Quiet Waters drew a blank.

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Sunrise at the beach.

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My favorite cove at Quiet Waters.

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Many Dark Eyed Juncos were feeding in the grass.

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Another Heron silhouette.

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The beach faces East, so morning shots tend to be into the Sun. like this Great Blue Heron.

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Several Northern Flickers were feeding in the grass.

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A distant Brown Pelican.

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Not quite a Super Moon.

Northern Harrier at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

t’s been a sparse week so far. I’ve often wondered how there can be a bird drought in one area, and plenty of birds just a few miles away.

I’m posting what I found at Thomas Point and CBEC  in the last couple of days, and hoping for better luck tomorrow.

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Morning at Sandy Point.

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This Canada Goose was at Lake Artemesia.

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Two small flocks of Northern Pintails were foraging in Lake Knapp.

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I’d have liked this Common Loon to have moved just a little closer.

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This Northern Harrier was just a bit too far away.

 

 

Blackpoll Warbler at Lake Artemesia.

Artemesia treated me well yesterday, so back I went. I’m not sure why we aren’t getting better birds locally, but they’ll be here eventually.

The Blackpoll Warbler is a very late migrant, and a nice find. Artemesia is still getting a nice selection of birds. I also stopped at Buddy Attick again, but didn’t find much. I expect I’d do better if I were there earlier.

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Views of Lake Artemesia.

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This Northern Flicker was also at Buddy Attick.

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Pied Billed Grebes were foraging in several areas.

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I found this Dark Eyed Junco at Buddy Attick.

 

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This great Blue Heron posed very nicely.

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Cardinals look good in full sun.

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Common Starlings look very good in the right light.

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This Downy Woodpecker poosed in very nice light.

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I often pass up Mockingbirds, but this one posed better than most.

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I got a better look at the Buffleheads today.

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Ruddy Ducks are still present in good numbers.

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This is a female Red Bellied Woodpecker.

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A large flock of Cedar Waxwings was feeding on berries.

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This young Blackpoll Warbler is migrating quite late.