Northern Pintail at Blackwater NWR.

When I have a good day at Blackwater I wonder why I ever go anywhere else. If it were closer, I might do that.

Lots of eagles, swans, geese and ducks today. There were also far more people than usual, which is a bit of a drag, as they frighten off the birds.

A good day, regardless.

Lesser Scaup 2017-16

I don’t often get this close to a Lesser Scaup.

American Wigeon 2017-3

American Wigeon 2017-2

I see American Wigeons more often at Oakley Street than anywhere else.

Canvasback 2017-6

This is a female Canvasback.

Redhead 2017-4

These Redheads were at Oakley Street.

Red Shouldered Hawk 2017-2

Red Shouldered Hawk 2017-1

I found this juvenile Red Shouldered Hawk on the way to Cambridge.

American Kestrel 2017-4

This is the same banded American Kestrel I found last week. She was banded as a nestling on 22 June 2013 in a nest box in Sussex Co., NJ.

Tundra Swan 2017-24

Many Tundra Swans hang out at Blackwater.

Bald Eagle 2017-25

Bald Eagle 2017-24

Bald Eagle 2017-23

Bald Eagle 2017-22

Bald Eagle 2017-21

I came across several pairs of Bald Eagles.

Hooded Merganser 2017-76

Hooded Merganser 2017-74

Hooded Merganser 2017-77

Hooded Merganser 2017-75

Hooded Mergansers tend to be very skittish, so I was lucky to get this close.

Snow Goose 2017-1

There was a large flock of Snow Geese.

Great Blue Heron 2017-8

Great Blue Heron 2017-7

This Great Blue Heron was one of the first birds I saw.

Northern Pintail 2017-3

Northern Pintail 2017-2

I saw two large flocks of Northern Pintails.