Blue Grosbeak at Blackwater NWR.

We’re due for a short period of foul weather, so I made the trek to Blackwater this morning to improve my chances of a good day.

It worked out OK.  There’s still not a lot of birds, but the variety was good, and the weather was better than the reports suggested it would be.

I found more passerines than usual, but not much in the way of migrants.

Dock 7

The dock on Key Wallace Drive.

Blackwater Dawn 27

Blackwater Dawn.

Field Sparrow 2017-3

I haven’t seen many Field Sparrows anywhere lately.

Common Yellowthroat 2017-11

Common Yellowthroats will be migrating South soon.

Green Heron 2017-34

I wanted just a little better light for this Green Heron.

Belted Kingfisher 2017-34 Belted Kingfisher 2017-33

Belted Kingfisher 2017-35

I wasn’t quite ready for this Belted Kingfisher, who flew in as I walked by.

Double Crested Cormorant 2017-42 Double Crested Cormorant 2017-41 Double Crested Cormorant 2017-40

Double Crested Cormorant 2017-43

I turned just in time to catch this Double Crested Cormorant swallowing his catch.

Caspian Tern 2017-46

This appears to be a Caspian Tern, and I don’t often see them at Blackwater.

Forster's Tern 2017-122

Many Forster’s Terns are feeding at Blackwater.

Great Blue Heron 2017-91

Great Blue Heron 2017-92

Great Blue Herons are the dominant wader at the moment.

Bald Eagle 2017-163 Bald Eagle 2017-162

Bald Eagle 2017-164

Bald Eagles are slightly more visible now.

Blue Grosbeak 2017-13

Blue Grosbeak 2017-14

I’ve only seen a few Blue Grosbeaks at Blackwater.

Delmarva Fox Squirrel 24

Delmarva Fox Squirrel 23

I walked right into this Delmarva Fox Squirrel, who wasn’t as skittish as some of his fellow squirrels.

Wasp 38

Today’s bugs.

Katydid 15 Wasp 39