Delmarva Fox Squirrel at Blackwater NWR.

With everything closed on Tuesday, and commuter traffic heading West. I went East to Blackwater.

It was actually pretty good, but ducks are in short supply. Eagles and squirrels made  up for it.

Snow Goose 2016-10

Snow Goose 2016-11

Thousands of Snow Geese were leaving as I arrived.

Great Blue Heron 2016-106

Great Blue Heron 2016-109

Great Blue Heron 2016-108

Great Blue Heron 2016-107

I liked this Great Blue Heron’s pose.

Bald Eagle 2016-124

Bald Eagle 2016-123

Bald Eagle 2016-122

Bald Eagle 2016-121

Bald Eagle 2016-120

Bald Eagles were abundant, as usual.

Tundra Swan 2016-26

Tundra Swan 2016-25

Many Tundra Swans were in residence.

Delmarva Fox Squirrel 5

Delmarva Fox Squirrel 4

Appearance: The Delmarva fox squirrel has a steel or whitish gray body and a white belly. It has short, thick, rounded ears. Its full, fluffy tail has black edgings and can grow to 15 inches long. The fox squirrel can grow to 30 inches in length and weigh up to 3 pounds. Habitat: Prefers quiet wooded areas, especially mature loblolly pine and hardwood forests with an open understory. Also found in woodlots near farm fields and groves of trees near water. Spends a considerable amount of time on the ground, rather than in trees like the common gray squirrel. Range: Found only in small isolated populations on the Delmarva Peninsula, mostly in Kent, Dorchester, Talbot and Queen Anne’s counties in Maryland. Biologists have moved some squirrels to other parts of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia to help develop populations there. Historic range extended as far north as southern New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania.