Killdeer at Swan Creek

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Hugh

After running some errands, I headed up to Swan Creek near Baltimore Harbor in hopes of seeing the Phalaropes reported there. I actually did get to see them, but they were little more than faraway blobs in a spotting scope.
I did a quick walk around under the gray, threatening skies, and got a few pictures, but nothing great.
I’ll try it again some day.

You could cover this tiny Frog with a quarter.

I don’t have a name for this Dragonfly yet.

This Osprey was not happy that we were near her nest.

I was lucky to get close to this Killdeer .

Yellow Breasted Chat at Wooton Wetlands Preserve.

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Hugh

With bad weather and work, it’s been three days since I got a decent chance to go out. I did manage a trip to Liberty Reservoir yesterday, but it was a bummer-I don’t know the place well and didn’t see much at all.
I went back to old reliable Wooton this morning and redeemed myself a bit.

I’ve only seen a few of these colorful Zebra Swallowtails.

This Ruby Throated Hummingbird is still hanging out at the same plant.

There are many White Eyed Vireos at Wooton, and they respond quickly to the Ibird App. This seems to be a controversial technique, but with so many songs being sung, I don’t see how one more could make a difference.

This Yellow Breasted Chat landed right in front of me as I was waiting for the hummingbird.

Bald Eagle at Liberty Reservoir

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Hugh

When I lived in Baltimore I used to spend a lot of time fishing at Liberty Reservoir (When I should have been studying). In those days it was easy to access. Nowadays they’ve fenced off the dam and closed some of the parking places, but it’s still a good place for wildlife.
I didn’t do spectacularly well today, but I’m going back soon to see what I can find.

This Eastern Kingbird was hanging out near the dam.

This Chipping Sparrow was foraging in a pine tree.

I spent a lot of time at Liberty in the ’70s, but never saw a Bald Eagle.

Two Deer were grazing near the dam.

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Ovenbird at Patuxent NWR.

Posted on June 9, 2013 by Hugh

I went on an impromptu trip to Patuxent NWR with the AABC, and we had a so-so morning. We saw a few good birds, but the light was lousy and the birds elusive. The Ovenbird is my best such bird to date.

We only got a brief look at the American Redstart (Female), and it’s not much of an image, but they are lovely birds.

I don’t have an exact ID for this Flycatcher yet.

This Ovenbird was very responsive to my Ibird song.
Cornell:
“The Ovenbird gets its name from its covered nest. The dome and side entrance make it resemble a Dutch oven.”

Not a bad shot of this Black and White Warbler, given the lousy light.

Redwing Blackbird Meets Dragonfly at Truxtun Park

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Hugh

Bad weather and work are keeping from my appointed rounds, but I managed to get out for a few minutes this morning. I was looking for some baby beavers at the park, and, though I did get a quick look, no picture was possible.

This Cardinal and his mate were eating these berries even though they are not yet ripe.

This Red Winged Blackbird is munching on a Dragonfly.

Wood Duck Attacked at Wooton Wetlands Preserve.

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Hugh

I decided to give Wooton another chance this morning, and it turned out well. In most cases I walk the entire loop, but this morning I did well by staying on the lower part of the loop, near the ponds. I’m not at all sure what could have attacked a Wood Duck (Snapping Turtle?) but there was a lot of drama involved, as well as loud honking and splashing water. I also saw a Great Egret and a tiny fawn, who didn’t stay long enough for a picture.

This Wood Duck may have been lucky to escape her mysterious attacker. (The consensus opinion is that it was a Snapping Turtle.)

Blue Gray Gnatcatchers don’t often pause while they’re feeding.

This Ruby Throated Hummingbird is still hanging out at the same perch between feedings.

This Prothonotary Warbler appears to have a nest out in the pond.

This Great Crested Flycatcher flew into the scene while I was photographing another bird.

You can hear the song of the Yellow Breasted Chat everywhere you go at Wooton, but getting them into the open isn’t always easy.

This juvenile Orchard Oriole may be practicing his mating song.

This Common Yellowthroat Warbler was the first bird I saw this morning.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird at Wooton’s Landing.

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Hugh

Work and weather have kept me doing much birding the last two days, but I did get back to Wooton this morning and found a few birds. The weather couldn’t have been better, but the variety of birds was lacking.

This Ruby Throated Hummingbird keeps returning to the same perch after feeding, making him easy to find.

I believe this is a Silver-bordered Fritillary .

This Catbird was nearby and singing loudly, but it still took me several minutes to locate him deep in a small tree.

Not a great shot of this White Eyed Vireo, who didn’t stay long in one place.

This Cedar Waxwing was feeding by himself.

Great Crested Flycatcher at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Hugh

Dan P. and I had arranged to meet at Governor Bridge on this beautiful morning, and we got started about 6:30.
While there wasn’t a great variety of birds, we got a few nice pictures.

Northern Parulas are easy to find at Governor Bridge.

We followed this Common Yellowthroat for quite a while before he posed.

The spectacular Great Crested Flycatcher has always been a favorite of mine.

Orchard Orioles at Lake Artemesia

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Hugh

Once again I wasn’t sure where to go, so I waited ’til I was on the road and settled for Lake Artemesia. Maybe I could have done better. I did get a few decent images, but not the variety I’m looking for.

This Carolina Wren has a tasty morsel in his beak.

Orchard Orioles are thriving at the Lake.

This Robin has found a bountiful bush of berries.

Goldfinches travel about in small flocks.

It was a good day to be a Turtle.

This Great Blue Heron was resting on a lopsided Osprey platform.

This Canada Goose family was out for an early morning swim.

Reptiles and Mammals

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Hugh

I got out for a while yesterday, but had a very slow day, so I didn’t post anything. Today, I went to the Eastern Shore and did better, but I’m not getting the birds I want. The turtles, rabbits and deer cooperated, but not much else.