I checked out Possum Point early, and it didn’t look promising. I did manage a few decent images at Sandy Point, but not the colorful shots I’m looking for.

I skipped Quiet Waters because it was so barren yesterday.

Thomas Point is still the best spot, and it gave up a Pintail and a Black Duck this morning. I don’t recall seeing a Pintail there in the past.

The birds at the point were mostly too far out for good images, and there wasn’t much variety.

Dawn at Sandy Point.

You can find Black Ducks at Thomas Point most winters.

Surf Scoters are still numerous.

Many Buffleheads are feeding at the point.

This Wood Duck has been hanging out at Thomas Point for a month or more.

This Northern Pintail was a real surprise.

I started at Possum Point again, and the sky was too gloomy for good pics, so I headed to Quiet Waters.

As I walked the path toward the river, I saw a large bird take off in the dark early morning light and thought I’d missed an Owl.  I looked carefully when I returned about half an hour later and found a young Red Tailed Hawk who posed  very nicely. There wasn’t much else to see in the park.

Thomas Point was somewhat better, with plenty of birds, but not as much variety as in previous days. I did get enough images to justify the trip.

There were many Surf Scoters at the point.

These Buffleheads seemed to be chasing one another.

This young Red Tailed Hawk just stared right back at me.

The forecast was cloudy and windy but it didn’t look too bad when I awoke, so I took a chance on Artemesia.

The sky was pretty cloudy, but it got better as the sun began to rise, and I got some decent shots at dawn.

I’m not crazy about windy days, and I got lucky, as the wind didn’t get started for a few hours after dawn. That was good, as there were many birds on the lake, and many were close enough for good images.

I never did get really good light, but it was a good day anyway.

Dawn at Lake Artemesia.

It;s not much of a shot, but you can see the Canvasback female in front An unsusual bird for Artemesia.

4 Hooded Mergansers were very cooperative this morning.

Many Double Crested Cormorants are spending time at the lake.

A few Buffleheads were feeding this morning.

There were well over a hundred Canada Geese.

This Great Blue Heron ignored my presence.

It’s rare to see a Great Egret this late in the season.

Many Ring Billed Gulls are staying at the lake.

I tried Quiet Waters this morning just for a change of pace. I’ve had good luck there in years past, but today was a bust.

I went straight to Thomas Point, and it was about the same, but some birds were in much closer and I got some decent images.

I finished up at my friend’s house on Thomas Point Road, where many birds hang out in hopes of getting fed by the locals.

Happy New Year!

The lighthouse at Thomas Point.

Female Canvasbacks aren’t as showy, but they have their own beauty.

You need good light to get the most from a Scaup.

If you look carefully through the flocks of Canvasbacks, you may find a Redhead.

There’s always a few Tundra Swans at my friend’s house.

Several Long Tailed Ducks were near the point.

Many Surf Scoters were feeding at the point.

This Common Goldeneye was qiuite close to shore, and I got her as she scurried away.

It’s fun to watch Buffleheads search for a meal.

The weatherman promised a sunny day and he delivered. I left early for Artemesia in hopes of getting some dawn color, but it was kind of tepid.

Canada Geese are still the dominant waterfowl, but there were plenty of others, including the continuing Goldeneyes, Great Blue Herons and a Great Egret.

A few Cormorants, Mallards and Gulls contributed, as well as a Cardinal and very cooperative Woodpecker.

Dawn at Lake Artemesia.

This Downy Woodpecker was quite close.

I haven’t gotten close to a female Cardinal in a while.

I kind of like this odd Mallard pose.

I’m not sure why this Great Egret is still this far North.

There are more Double Crested Cormorants than usual.

I’m used to seeing Common Goldeneyes in the bay, not in an inland lake.

Several Great Blue Herons were feeding.

Only a few Ruddy Ducks were foraging.

Buffleheads will probably be around all Winter.

This Carolina Wren was very loud.

The Canada Geese usually leave right after sunrise.

I went to Kent Narrows this morning, looking for a reported Snowy Owl, but had no luck. There wasn’t much else to see, either,

Thomas Point was next. It was a warmish, calm day, and Thomas Point can be very productive in those conditions.

There were plenty of distant birds, as usual, but I did get a few decent images. I ended at my friend’s house, where I got some closer looks in good light.

It’s been a good year for Long Tailed Ducks.

A few Scaup were hanging out at my friend’s house.

I found only a few Redheads.

Tundra Swans will often have little spats. 

Many Canvasbacks stay in the area all Winter.

Only a few Common Goldeneyes were present.

The Possum Point sunrise was a disappointment again, so I started at Quiet Waters this morning. I looked around for about an hour, but there’s just not much happening there yet,

Thomas Point was about the same as previously; plenty of birds too far away for good images.

I stopped at my friend’s house on Thomas Point Road and got the best images of the day.

This Wood Duck is still hanging out with his Mallard pals.

A few Buffleheads were close enough for pictures.

Several Canvasbacks had ventured out close to the point.

Scaup can be very attractive in the right light.

The Tundra Swans were very active today.

A pair of Long Tailed Ducks is staying near the point.

Several Cardinals were foraging near the point.

Many Mallards have been feeding in the shallows.

I frequently find Redheads mixed in with Canvasbacks.

I was going to try for sunrise at Possum Point this morning, but it didn’t look very exciting, so I waited awhile and went to Lake Artemesia. I got a couple of dawn sky images, but it wasn’t as colorful as I’d like.

Artemesia was as fruitful as it was last week. There were plenty of interesting birds willing to pose, and the light was nearly as good as it gets.  The Trumpeter Swan is still hanging around, and a couple of Mergansers posed as well. I only got one look at the Eagle, who flew right in front of me.

Yet another very good morning.

Dawn at Lake Artemesia.

Mallards look good in the right light.

There weren’t as many Canada Geese as usual.

There were at least 17 Double Crested Cormorants.

Ring Billed Gulls are regulars at the lake.

This Great Blue Heron moved around quite a lot.

Several Buffleheads were foraging in the lake.

My first good look at a Hooded Merganser this season.

The Common Goldeneye hens are still hanging around.

This Great Egret should be far South of here by now.

This Trumpeter Swan poses quite readily.

I tried Possum Point early, to look at the sky, and it wasn’t at all interesting.  I tried Schoolhouse Pond next, and it was not at all interesting. Only the usual suspects, and mostly too far away.

I ended up at Thomas Point. The weather was perfect and the water was calm, which can be ideal at Thomas Point. There were certainly plenty of birds, including two FOS birds, a Merganser and a Grebe. Again many of the birds were too far for good images, but it was a good morning nonetheless.

This Belted Kingfisher made only a brief appearance.

Many Ruddy Ducks were at the point, and most seemed to be sleeping.

You can hear the call of Surf Scoters from quite a distance, a soft whistling noise.

There were many Scaup, but only this one came in close enough for a picture.

I haven’t seen as many Common Goldeneyes as in past years.

First Horned Grebe of the season.

There will be Buffleheads at the point all winter.

Tundra Swans hang around all winter as well.

I found this Great Blue Heron at Schoolhouse Pond.

First Red Breasted Merganser of the season.

We’re supposed to have good weather for a few days, and I’ve been hearing good things about Lake Artemesia, so I left early to catch the morning sky.  I try to avoid heading West in the morning during the week because I really hate the traffic.

The morning sky didn’t disappoint, and there was an astonishing variety of birds, including the Trumpeter and a Great Egret.

A really good morning, overall.

The dark sky and smooth water make for a nice composition.

Only a few Buffleheads were on the lake.

There were 50 or more Ring Billed Gulls.

A pair of Red Shouldered Hawks were very vocal.

A pair of Red Shouldered Hawks were very vocal.

At least three Bald Eagles were soaring above the lake.

Three Common Goldeneye hens have been at the lake for a week or more.

I found only a single Ring Necked Duck.

Several Double crested Cormorants were fishing in the lake.

3-4 Hooded Mergansers were feeding in the shallows.

This Great Egret is in the area very late.

I have sent off for the info about the tag on this Trumpeter Swan.