About Hugh

Later

Little Blue Heron at Wooton’s landing.

Posted on May 8, 2018 by Hugh

I heard a good report about Wooton, so I made the trek and got there around sunrise. I saw a Fox run into the bushes, and a quick look around suggested there were some birds to be found.

I spent about 2 hours on the lower trail and searching the pond near the river, and got some good results. I suspect there were many more interesting birds than I found, but the foliage gets thick in places, and the birds are quick. I’ll probably go back very soon.

Several Prothonotary Warblers were feeding near the marsh ponds.

I found this Indigo Bunting at Sands Road.

This Orchard Oriole was also at Sands Road.

Wooton is a good place to find Common Yellowthroats.

A few Yellow Rumped Warblers are still lingering.

Two Solitary Sandpipers were feeding in the pond near the river.

These Tree Swallows are preparing to mate.

This is a female Yellow Warbler.

Today’s prize: I have seen only a few Little Blue Herons, and most of them were juveniles. This is my second adult.

Black Billed Cuckoo at Governor Bridge Natural Area.

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Hugh

Migration is well under way, but the warblers continue to evade me. I’ve been lucky enough to find a few interesting migrants, but others are finding pockets of warblers that I’m not.

I got out to some old spots in the last few days, and birds were relatively scarce in general. It’s still relatively early, though, so I may get lucky soon. In the meantime I’ll settle for the few good birds that came my way.

I found this Tricolored Heron at CBEC this morning. It’s rare for this time of year.

Green Herons are noisy birds who will announce their presence if alarmed.

A small flock of Least Sandpipers was foraging at Terrapin.

I found this Veery at Truxtun Park. A rare bird for me.

I didn’t see many Red Eyed Vireos last year.

This Swamp Sparrow was at Governor Bridge.

My only good warbler so far this year, a male Magnolia Warbler.

The Black Billed Cuckoo is somewhat threatened. They nest north of here. I’ve only seen two of these birds, and the other was at Governor Bridge, a hundred yards from this one.

Baltimore Oriole at Buddy Attick Lake Park.

Posted on May 5, 2018 by Hugh

The dearth of migrants has continued for several days, now, along with so-so weather. Today was a big improvement, but warblers are still among the missing, so far.

I’ve managed a few outings, recently, but haven’t had enough good material for a post. I’m including several days of photos today.

The Chat, the Oriole and the Gadwall were all good finds and may bode well for the future.

Lake Artemesia.

There’s always a few Mallards around.

This Wood Duck has 8-9 chicks.

This is only the second Eastern Kingbird I’ve seen this year.

It’s quite unusual to see a Gadwall around here at this time of year.

This Pied Billed Grebe seems to be a little late to migrate.

I’ve seen several Canada Geese with goslings.

I found this Yellow Breasted Chat at Greenbury point.

This Tree Swallow was gathering nesting material at CBEC.

A Brown Thrasher at CBEC.

My FOS Gray Catbird.

The CBEC Ospreys are still nest-building.

This Purple Martin is at Blackwater.

An Orchard Oriole singing for a mate.

Red Winged Blackbirds are singing in every marsh.

These Bald Eagles were enjoying the morning Sun.

Yellow Rumped Warblers have mostly left the area.

Palm Warblers were everywhere for a few days.

I don’t often post House Sparrows.

Cardinals seem to be singing from every tree.

This Fox has found a Muskrat for breakfast.

Canada Geese at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Hugh

It’s been a cold, wet Spring, and we’re not getting the numbers of migrants we expect. I’m getting out most days, but searching, mostly in vain, for warblers and other species who should be here by now. This has happened before, and it’s disappointing, but the show will go on.

I went to Artemesia this morning, after trying some disappointing local spots in recent days, and did OK. No great birds, but a couple of good enough shots.

The weather is getting warmer, and I expect things to pick up soon.

Lake Artemesia.

This Wood Duck has been guarding his nest box.

White Throated Sparrows often linger well into Spring.

Downy Woodpeckers have been very conspicuous lately.

Many Blue Gray Gnatcatchers were feeding near the water.

I found this Prothonotary Warbler at Wooton’s Landing.

This White Eyed Vireo was singing loudly at Wooton.

These Canada Goslings followed their parents very closely.

Green Winged Teal at Bombay Hook NWR.

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Hugh

Some day I’ll get a plan and figure out the best way to spend my photo taking time. I’m not getting the action I want around here, and the best places are a fair distance away. Anyway, I went to Bombay Hook again, and got some good results.

I was pleasantly surprised to see many birds, especially herons and egrets, but some migrating ducks and a Northern Harrier added to the fun. It’s almost always worth the drive, even though I’m not a fan of the trip.

There’s a field full of Bobolinks near Bear Swamp Pool.

I found this Caspian Tern at Sandy Point yesterday.

I was lucky to catch this Double Crested Cormorant as he was taking off.

Many Greater Yellowlegs feed at Bombay Hook.

A Mallard pair.

I saw this Northern Harrier on the side of the road, and was able to follow her briefly.

This appears to be another Savannah Sparrow, a bird I seldom see.

I was surprised this Snowy Egret let me get this close.

This shows the comparative size of the 19″ Northern Shoveller and the Green Winged Teal (14″).

Red Headed Woodpecker at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on September 15, 2017 by Hugh

There’s not much going on around here, so I made the trip to Blackwater again. I’ve been trying to get there in time for a little sunrise work., and it came out OK.

Eagles were more active than usual, but no significant migrants showed up. A noisy woodpecker got my attention for a good shot.

Blackwater Dawn.

I definitely saw more Bald Eagles than usual today.

This lone Great Egret was relaxing on Wildlife Drive.

Forster’s Terns will remain at Blackwater for some time yet.

There’s still a few Eastern Kingbirds along Wildlife Drive.

I found this Sanderling at Sandy Point yesterday.

A few Caspian Terns are still hanging out at Sandy Point.

This Osprey was the only image I got at Terrapin yesterday.

This very noisy Red Headed Woodpecker got my attention.

Two days worth of bugs.

I’m still finding many small Tee Frogs.

Blue Grosbeak at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Hugh

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.

The dock on Key Wallace Drive.

Blackwater Dawn.

I haven’t seen many Field Sparrows anywhere lately.

Common Yellowthroats will be migrating South soon.

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

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

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

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

Many Forster’s Terns are feeding at Blackwater.

Great Blue Herons are the dominant wader at the moment.

Bald Eagles are slightly more visible now.

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

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

Today’s bugs.

Savannah Sparrow at Bombay Hook NWR.

Posted on September 11, 2017 by Hugh

I met Graeme early, and we drove to Bombay Hook to see if we could get lucky. There have been Ibises seen, and it’s well into migration, so anything was possible.

It was not to be. There were certainly plenty of birds in good light, but nothing out of the ordinary save a very nice Savannah Sparrow.

We spent some time with the Egrets and Terns, and found some Sandpipers willing to come quite close. Not a great day, but good enough.

Many Snowy Egrets were feeding in the marsh.

I don’t often get this close to a Greater Yellowlegs.

Forster’s Terns were feeding quickly.

This Great Blue Heron shows how the light was nearly perfect.

I haven’t seen a Savannah Sparrow in quite a while.

Chestnut-sided Warbler at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on September 9, 2017 by Hugh

I was at Sandy Point for sunrise, and didn’t take a single picture. That’s a lot of trips I’ve made without a decent sunrise.

I went to Terrapin afterwards, and it was a very active day. Many migrants were on the move, and I saw lots of movement in many different areas of the park. I didn’t get as many images, nor as much variety as I’d like, but it was good enough.

This Flycatcher was the first bird I found this morning.

A small flock of Cedar Waxwings was roaming the park.

I was lucky to spot this Palm Warbler.

This Osprey will be heading South soon.

I saw several Great Crested Flycatchers this morning.

This Scarlet Tanager is on the way South.

This Red Eyed Vireo took off just as I pressed the shutter.

This Baltimore Oriole was a surprise.

Several Chestnut-sided Warblers flew through my area.

Today’s bugs.

I found 5 of these small Frogs this afternoon.

Five Lined Skinks are numerous at Quiet Waters.

Brown Headed Nuthatch at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on September 8, 2017 by Hugh

With good weather promised, I decided to try a trip to Blackwater this morning. It wasn’t any kind of bonanza, but I did find a few interesting birds.

There’s still only a few wading birds compared to a few weeks ago, and I don’t know what to make of that.