Common Loon at Lake Artemesia.

I talked to Graeme last night, and he reported a Common Loon at Lake Artemesia, so I made the trek this morning to see if I could find it. I’ve always liked Loons. I got lucky right away.

Other migrants are starting to show up as well, including Orioles.

Orchard Oriole 2017-3 Orchard Oriole 2017-4

Orchard Oriole 2017-2

I finally got a good look at the Orchard Oriole.

Red Breasted Merganser 2017-27

Red Breasted Merganser 2017-26

Red Breasted Merganser 2017-25

Red Breasted Merganser 2017-24 Red Breasted Merganser 2017-23 Red Breasted Merganser 2017-22 Red Breasted Merganser 2017-21

Red Breasted Merganser 2017-20

This Red Breasted Merganser flew in while I was circling the lake.

Carolina Wren 2017-1

I haven’t posted a Carolina Wren in a while.

Cedar Waxwing 2017-1

Cedar Waxwings have been missing for a while.

Barn Swallow 2017-3

Barn Swallows are making nests in the gazebo.

Green Heron 2017-3

This Green Heron flew into the bushes near me.

Starling 2017-1

This Starling just had a bath.

Crow 2017-3

This Crow looked good in this evergreen.

Common Loon 2017-2

Common Loon 2017-4

Common Loon 2017-3

Today’s prize; the Common Loon.

 

 

Green Heron at Terrapin Nature Park.

It was the first nice day in a week, but it didn’t improve the birding much. Terrapin is still very slow, and CBEC isn’t much better. I guess I’ll have to learn to be more creative with what’s there.

Canada Goose 2017-29

Only a few Canada Geese are still in the area.

Great Horned Owl 2017-7

This Great Horned Owl chick is thriving.

Eastern Kingbird 2017-4

Eastern Kingbirds are getting common.

Wood Duck 2017-35

A pair of Wood Ducks seem to be nesting in the marsh pond.

Tree Swallow 2017-39

Tree Swallow 2017-38

A few tree Swallows are always flying over the marsh.

Green Heron 2017-1

Green Heron 2017-2

I saw this Green Heron fly across my path, and was lucky to relocate him in the woods.

Canada Geese at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

It was another gray, dreary and threatening morning, but I don’t have much else to do, so I decided to give it a try.
Terrapin was almost devoid of birds, so I didn’t stay long. CBEC was only slightly better, but a few geese made it somewhat interesting.

Ruddy Duck 2017-6

Ruddy Duck 2017-5

This Ruddy Duck is in breeding plumage.

Snowy Egret 2017-20

Snowy Egret 2017-21

Snowy Egrets are appearing more often.

Osprey 2017-40 Osprey 2017-39 Osprey 2017-38 Osprey 2017-37 Osprey 2017-36 Osprey 2017-35 Osprey 2017-33 Osprey 2017-32 Osprey 2017-31 Osprey 2017-34

Osprey 2017-41

A pair of Ospreys always seems to breed at CBEC.

Canada Goose 2017-27 Canada Goose 2017-26 Canada Goose 2017-25 Canada Goose 2017-24 Canada Goose 2017-23 Canada Goose 2017-22 Canada Goose 2017-21 Canada Goose 2017-20 Canada Goose 2017-19 Cackling Goose 2017-8

Canada Goose 2017-28

Several Canada Geese appeared to be bathing and grooming.

 

Baltimore Oriole at Lake Artemesia.

The weatherman originally called for rain this morning, but we got a cloudy and cool sky instead, so I gave Lake Artemesia a try.

It started out OK, with a couple of Wood Ducks and a few other migrants, but fizzled out after an hour or so. Still, I think migration is in full swing now, and we’re going to have a few good weeks.

Wood Duck 2017-33 Wood Duck 2017-32 Wood Duck 2017-31 Wood Duck 2017-30

Wood Duck 2017-29

My first birds this morning were a pair of Wood Ducks.

Downy Woodpecker 2017-3

I haven’t seen many Downy Wood peckers lately.

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 2017-6 Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 2017-4

 

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 2017-5

I’m seeing Blue Gray Gnatcatchers in most areas now.

Bufflehead 2017-51

These Bufflehead hens seem to be staying in the area very late.

Palm Warbler 2017-5

Several Palm Warblers were foraging in the trees.

Yellow Rumped Warbler 2017-3

Many Yellow Rumped Warblers were around as well.

Yellow Rumped Warbler 2017-4

Northern Rough Winged Swallow 2017-1

I don’t see many Northern Rough Winged Swallows at Artemesia.

Field Sparrow 2017-1

This Field Sparrow was a mild surprise.

Eastern Kingbird 2017-3

Eastern Kingbirds seem to have arrived in most areas.

Baltimore Oriole 2017-1

This is a female Baltimore Oriole.

Snowy Egret at Terrapin Nature Park.

The weather has been sucky and migrating birds scarce. I’ve been getting out most days, but finding interesting birds has been a challenge.

Today was a little better, but it was very cloudy, which makes for lousy light. I ran into a couple of interesting people and spent as much time yakking as taking photos.

Great Horned Owl 2017-6

Great Horned Owl 2017-5

A butt shot of the Great Horned Owl returning to the nest.

 

Great Horned Owl 2017-4

Great Horned Owl 2017-3

Another visit to the Great Horned Owlet.

Ruddy Duck 2017-4

A few Ruddy Ducks are still hanging out at CBEC.

Cackling Goose 2017-7

One more look at the Cackling Goose. The Asst. Director tells me this bird was a rescue last year, and is doing well.

Wood Duck 2017-28

This Wood Duck was swimming at Terrapin.

Tree Swallow 2017-33

Canada Goose 2017-18

These Canada Geese seem to be nesting at CBEC.

Red Winged Blackbird 2017-20

A female Red Winged Blackbird in good light.

Eastern Towhee 2017-2

I found this Eastern Towhee at Governor Bridge.

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 2017-3

Blue Gray Gnatcatchers have returned.

Tree Swallow 2017-36 Tree Swallow 2017-35

Tree Swallow 2017-34

It’s nice to see a Tree Swallow on a natural perch.

Osprey 2017-29

Osprey 2017-30

Several Ospreys are fishing in the marsh ponds.

Snowy Egret 2017-17 Snowy Egret 2017-16 Snowy Egret 2017-15 Snowy Egret 2017-14 Snowy Egret 2017-13 Snowy Egret 2017-12

Snowy Egret 2017-18

A lone Snowy Egret was fishing at Terrapin.

Muskrat 17

This Muskrat was swimming in the marsh at Terrapin.

 

Black-necked Stilt at Bombay Hook NWR.

I wanted to get to Bombay Hook once more before the weather got too warm, and today looked to be a good chance.

There were plenty of birds to choose from, including many eagles and my first Black-necked Stilt.  There were hundreds of Sandpipers as well.

Many photographers were there as well, and they seemed to be very interested in the eagles.

I wanted to get to Bombay Hook once more before the weather got too warm, and today looked to be a good chance.

There were plenty of birds to choose from, including many eagles and my first Black-necked Stilt.  There were hundreds of Sandpipers as well.

Many photographers were there as well, and they seemed to be very interested in the eagles.

Bombay Hook 4

Bombay Hook 2

Bombay Hook 3

Sunrise at Bombay Hook.

Turkey Vulture 2017-2

Many Turkey Vultures were feeding alongside the road.

Sandpiper 2017-3

Hundreds of small Sandpipers were foraging in the marsh.

Snowy Egret 2017-11

I only found one Snowy Egret.

Belted Kingfisher 2017-3

This Belted Kingfisher was very cooperative.

Green Winged Teal 2017-17

Green Winged Teal seem to like foraging in the mud.

Eastern Kingbird 2017-2

This Eastern Kingbird was a nice surprise.

 

Great Blue Heron 2017-29

Many Great Blue herons were feeding in the marsh.

Black Duck 2017-6

I saw only a few Black Ducks.

Killdeer 2017-8

I often find Killdeer in the road.

Bald Eagle 2017-97 Bald Eagle 2017-96 Bald Eagle 2017-95 Bald Eagle 2017-94 Bald Eagle 2017-93

Bald Eagle 2017-98

10 or more Bald Eagles were fishing in the marsh.

Great Egret 2017-10

Great Egret 2017-9

Great Egret 2017-8

Great Egrets were well represented.

Black Crowned Night Heron 2017-1

Black Crowned Night Heron 2017-2

There is a Black Crowned Night Heron rookery in Bear Swamp Pool.

Black-necked Stilt 2017-4

Black-necked Stilt 2017-2

I’ve been looking for a Black-necked Stilt for quite a while.

Black-necked Stilt 2017-3

Castor Canadensis at Lake Artemesia.

I usually make a bird the star in the title, but I found a nice Beaver this morning, who posed almost completely out of the water. Unusual, in my experience.

A few migrants are starting to show up, but I can’t say much good about the poses.

Lake Artemesia 82 Lake Artemesia 84

Lake Artemesia 83

Lake Artemesia.

Barn Swallow 2017-1

Barn Swallow 2017-2

Barn Swallows are gathering mud for their nests.

Orchard Oriole 2017-1

This Orchard Oriole was in the same grove of trees as last year.

Eastern Kingbird 2017-1

This Eastern Kingbird was a nice surprise.

Red Winged Blackbird 2017-19

Red Winged Blackbird 2017-18

Red Winged Blackbirds can look good in the right light.

Mallard 2017-23

I liked the pose of this Mallard.

Beaver 113

Beaver 114

This beaver let me get quite close.

Eastern Towhee at Wooton’s Landing.

It’s been slow for a few days. The migrants are here, but they seem to bypass me most of the time.

This was my second trip to Wooton’s recently, and there’s just not much there yet.

I went to Possum Point this morning and found a few Ospreys, but it was too cloudy to expect much.

I made a brief trip to Truxtun Park this afternoon, and it was slow also.

Osprey 2017-28 Osprey 2017-27 Osprey 2017-25

Osprey 2017-26

The Possum Point Ospreys are very active.

Swamp Sparrow 2017-1

Swamp Sparrow 2017-2

Swamp Sparrows seem to be well established now.

Mourning Dove 2017-1

This Mourning Dove seemed to be gathering nesting material.

Cardinal 2017-2

Cardinals can be heard everywhere, from dawn to dusk.

House Sparrow 2017-1

I don’t often post House Sparrows.

Blue Jay 2017-4

This Blue Jay posed for me at Truxtun Park.

Eastern Towhee 2017-1

I found this female Eastern Towhee at Wooton, and followed her for a while to get a shot.

 

Red Fox at Sandy Point.

I know migration is starting, but it doesn’t seem to be starting for me. Not much to see anywhere this morning, even at Sandy Point. I was lucky to find the Fox.

Terrapin was particularly barren, and CBEC had fewer birds than usual.

Sandy Point 486

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Osprey 2017-23

Osprey 2017-24

The CBEC Ospreys were very active.

Tree Swallow 2017-32

A decent Tree Swallow in flight.

Cackling Goose 2017-6

Another look at the Cackling Goose.

Mallard 2017-22

Mallard 2017-21

Mallard 2017-20

Mallard 2017-19

These Mallards were having a disagreement.

Fox 71

Fox 72

I found this Fox as I was leaving Sandy Point.

Flower 93

I found this flower at Quiet Waters.

Palm Warbler at Terrapin Nature Park.

I got back to the regular routine today-Sandy Point (Another bust), Terrapin (Very slow), and then CBEC, which was also slow. I know others are finding good birds, so my luck just isn’t very good.

I did get another look at the Cackling Goose and the Great Horned Owl, but there wasn’t much else going on.

Canada Goose 2017-17

This Canada Goose may have been napping.

Cackling Goose 2017-5

Another look at the Cackling Goose.

Northern Shoveler 2017-35

Northern Shoveler 2017-34

There are still many Northern Shovelers in the lake.

Mallard 2017-18

This is a hybrid Mallard.

Gadwall 2017-9

Gadwall are still hanging out at CBEC.

Pine Warbler 2017-3

Yet another Pine Warbler in bad light.

Palm Warbler 2017-4

Palm Warblers are showing up in many places.

Diamondback Terrapin 8

This 6″ Diamondback Terrapin was crossing the road as I left. Correction: I’ve been told this is a full grown Eastern Mud Turtle.