American Wigeon at Thomas Point.

I was at Possum Point early, for the sunrise, but it didn’t look promising. Sandy Point wasn’t any better, so I got to Kent Narrows around dawn.

I saw only Scaup, suggesting the other ducks may be on the way out of here.

Thomas Point was kind of sparse, but the cove was chock full of Mallards and a Wood Duck. I also found an American Wigeon near the gate.

Tundra Swan 2019-27

Many Tundra Swans are still foraging near the point.

Mallard 2019-22 Mallard 2019-21 Mallard 2019-20

Mallard 2019-19

American Wigeons are relatively rare at Thomas Point.

Mallard 2019-23

The Mallards in the cove were active.

Bufflehead 2019-34

I found only a few Buffleheads.

Wood Duck 2019-16

Wood Duck 2019-17

This Wood Duck seems to spending the Winter in the cove.

 

 

Canada Goose at Schooler’s Pond.

I’ve been having poor luck lately.  If the weather isn’t poor, the birds don’t show up or the light is bad. I’ve been to Schooler’s Pond, Bombay Hook, Lake Artemesia, Quiet Waters and Thomas Point without much to show for it.

Graeme and I drove to Virginia yesterday in hopes of seeing some whales in Virginia Beach, but we got rained out. We made a stop at Ocean City on the way back, but it was a very long day. We did see a couple of good birds in Ocean City.

Long Tailed Duck 2019-39 Long Tailed Duck 2019-38 Long Tailed Duck 2019-41

Long Tailed Duck 2019-40

This long Tailed Duck was at Ocean City inlet.

Red Breasted Merganser 2019-1

Three Red Breasted Mergansers were feeding at the inlet.

Common Loon 158

I haven’t seen a Common Loon in a while.

Hooded Merganser 2019-36

Hooded Merganser 2019-37

This Hooded Merganser was at Bombay Hook.

Bald Eagle 2019-10

A Bald Eagle enjoying the morning sun.

 

Black Duck 2019-11

This Black Duck was stretching his wings.

Northern Pintail 2019-3

This pair of Green Winged Teals was at Bombay Hook.

Northern Shoveler 2019-3

A Northern Shoveler at Lake Artemesia.

Great Blue Heron 2019-15

This Great Blue Heron was at Schooler’s Pond.

Green Winged Teal 2019-3

Northern Pintail 2019-3

This pair of Northern Pintails was at Bombay Hook.

Great Blue Heron 2019-13

Great Blue Heron 2019-14

This Great Blue Heron was dining at Lake Artemesia.

Double Crested Cormorant 2019-15

Double Crested Cormorant 2019-14

A Double Crested Cormorant flies into Lake Artemesia.

Canada Goose 2019-12

Canada Goose 2019-11

There were over 200 Canada Geese at Schooler’s Pond.

Pony 2019-1 Pony 2019-2 Pony 2019-3 Pony 2019-4

Pony 2019-5

Ponies from Assateague Island.

Graeme Simpson 28

Graeme Simpson 29

Graeme Simpson photographing the Assateague ponies.

Rock Dove at Kent Narrows.

I found a decent sunrise at Possum Point this morning. I had left home a little late (6:06) and may have missed the very best colors, but it was good enough.

I went right to Kent Narrows, which was only so-so, but some Pigeons performed well enough.

I ended at Thomas Point, which was slow. I found a few birds in the cove, but there wasn’t much to see at the point.

Possum Point 166 Possum Point 167 Possum Point 168 Possum Point 169

Possum Point 170

Sunrise at Possum Point.

Tundra Swan 2019-25 Tundra Swan 2019-24

Tundra Swan 2019-26

Several Tundra Swans seemed to be goofing off.

Canvasback 2019-25

This Canvasback hen was mixing with the Tundra Swans.

Lesser Scaup 2019-19

Many Scaup were in the area.

Rock Dove 2019-1

A flock of Rock Doves seemed to be practicing for an aerial routine.

Long Tailed Duck 2019-35 Long Tailed Duck 2019-34 Long Tailed Duck 2019-33

Long Tailed Duck 2019-36

I’m seeing a lot of Long Tailed Ducks this year.

Northern Shoveler at Lake Artemesia.

I went to Artemesia yesterday, and it was almost a total waste of time. It was windy and cold, and the birds just weren’t there.

Today was different, with calm winds, sunny skies and beaucoup birds. I made several loops of the lake, finding new birds on each trek. I’ve only seen Shovelers there once before.

Lake Artemesia 122

Dawn at Lake Artemesia.

 

Redhead 2019-12

I got my first good Redhead image here several years ago.

Common Goldeneye 2019-17

Common Goldeneye 2019-18

I found only a single Common Goldeneye today.

Northern Shoveler 23019-1

Northern Shoveler 2019-1

The Northern Shoveler’s beak is twice as wide at the tip as at the base.

Hooded Merganser 2019-35 Hooded Merganser 2019-32 Hooded Merganser 2019-31 Hooded Merganser 2019-30 Hooded Merganser 2019-29

Hooded Merganser 2019-33

Two small flocks of Hooded Mergansers were feeding.

Ring Necked Duck 2019-4 Ring Necked Duck 2019-3

Lesser Scaup 2019-17

A single Scaup was cruising the shoreline.

White Throated Sparrow 2019-1

White Throated Sparrows were foraging in the grass along the path.

Bufflehead 2019-33

I saw only a single Bufflehead.

Double Crested Cormorant 2019-13

Double Crested Cormorants were resting near the Osprey platform.

 

 

American Wigeon at Thomas Point.

The weatherman was calling for rain today, so I slept in late. Imagine my surprise to see a slightly cloudy day, rapidly becoming sunny.

I went to Possum Point first, in hopes of finding some interesting birds, but I had little luck. There were a few birds, but nothing exciting.

I went to Thomas Point next, which was better, but it’s still the same old birds. Good light gave me a few good pics.

I finished up at Quiet Waters, which was nearly barren. There’s still a lot of ice in the river, so it may be few days before the ducks show up.

I don’t often see Foxes in mid-morning.

I heard this Carolina Chickadee long before I saw him.

 

This Redhead is hanging out with the Canvasbacks.

Many Tundra Swans were hanging out, apparently loafing.

I was surprised to find a single American Wigeon flying right at me.

Canvasback hen, close up.

A few Scaup were mixed in with the Canvasbacks.

A few Buffleheads were swimming nearby.

This Wood Duck is hanging out in the cove.

A few Black Ducks were in the area.

Quiet Waters cove.

 

Ruddy Duck at Kent Narrows.

Yesterday I made the trip to Blackwater, and it was disappointing.  All the water along Wildlife Drive was frozen, so there weren’t any ducks or other wading birds, which is a big deal at Blackwater. I decided to try Hooper’s Island after that, which was also a waste of time. I made a brief stop at Thomas Point as well.

Today I started at Possum Point, which didn’t look promising, so I went to Sandy Point, where I got some good dawn shots.

Kent Narrows was next, and I did very well there. Lots of good birds in good light.

Sandy Point 535

Sandy Point 536

Dawen at Sandy Point.

Great Blue Heron 2019-11

Great Blue Heron 2019-12

Several Great Blue Herons were foraging in the area.

Long Tailed Duck 2019-26 Long Tailed Duck 2019-24

Long Tailed Duck 2019-27

I don’t often see so many Long Tailed Ducks.

Common Goldeneye 2019-14

Common Goldeneye 2019-13

This Common Goldeneye seemed to be by itself.

Tundra Swan 2019-21

I found these Tundra Swans at Thomas Point.

Mallard 2019-15

A Mallard hen takes flight.

Bald Eagle 2019-8

Bald Eagle 2019-9

I was fairly close to this Bald Eagle when he took off.

Ruddy Duck 2019-9 Ruddy Duck 2019-7

Ruddy Duck 2019-8

The water around this Ruddy Dick was illuminated by the morning sun.