About Hugh

Later

Glossy Ibis at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Hugh

Another early trip to Blackwater on a very hot and humid day. I went around Wildlife drive quickly, then hit the bridge on Key Wallace Drive looking for Swallows and Cormorants.

The Osprey chicks were more cooperative, and I found a lone Glossy Ibis after they’ve been absent for a month. I spent some more time with the Red Headed Woodpecker as well.

I found this Orchard Oriole yesterday at Governor Bridge (And nothing else).

I tried way too many times for a Barn Swallow flight shot.

Red Winged Blackbirds are very busy feeding their young.

This Great Blue Heron seemed to be chilling.

The Red Headed Woodpeckers seem to be good parents.

Great Egrets are the most common wader at the moment.

Bald Eagles often perch in the trees along Wildlife Drive.

I tried way too many times for a Barn Swallow flight shot.

The Barn Swallows tend to stay very busy.

I saw at least three Greater Yellowlegs.

This Glossy Ibis almost got by me.

Red Headed Woodpecker at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on July 9, 2017 by Hugh

There’s still not much to see around here, so I headed for Blackwater early. It was actually a pretty good day, with great light and plenty of active birds.

I’m still not seeing many Sandpipers, but wading birds are plentiful, and a few passerines made a good show.

I’m still checking out the Maple Dam Barn Swallows.

I was close enough to the Great Blue Heron to get a god look at his feet.

Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets rule the roost right now.

Great Egrets are roughly equal in numbers to the Herons.

It’s not hard to find Brown Headed Nuthatches at Blackwater.

Red Winged Blackbirds are plentiful in every marsh I frequent.

I found this Red Winged Blackbird feeding his chick yesterday at Lake Artemesia.

This Wood Duck chick was also at Lake Artemesia.

The Red Headed Woodpecker is very striking. I’ve located his nesting tree.

A swimming Raccoon! I’ve seen a few Raccoons, but never in the water.

I seldom get close enough to a Groundhog for a picture.

This Skunk was foraging by the side of the road, and I was able to get quite close to him.

Baltimore Oriole at Greenbury Point.

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Hugh

The weatherman was calling for rain last night, but it looked pretty good to me, so I took a chance and went to Greenbury Point.

It was much better than it’s been recently, with Orioles, Herons, Goldfinches and an Indigo Bunting. I believe the Baltimore Oriole is the first I’ve seen at Greenbury.

Butterflies seem to be getting more plentiful as well.

I stopped at the library yesterday, and got some images of the flowers growing out front.

Butterflies are getting more plentiful.

I’m not much on flower names, but they’re nice looking.

There’s always a few Cardinals foraging at the point.

Yellow Breasted Chars are plentiful at Greenbury, but it’s hard to get close.

This Baltimore Oriole was a surprise.

Red Winged Blackbird at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on July 4, 2017 by Hugh

Back to Blackwater on the 4th of July. I was afraid it might be crowded, but it wasn’t bad at all.

The Great Egrets seem to have come back for a while. I saw at least 20.

There wasn’t a lot of variety today, so I stopped by Maple Dam Road and caught the Swallows and Cormorants.

Blackwater Dawn.

I saw this Great Blue Heron as I was leaving.

One of my better Red Winged Blackbirds.

Double Crested Cormorants hang out at the Maple Dam Dock.

The Osprey chicks continue to thrive.

20 Great Egrets were foraging in the marsh.

This Bald Eagle seemed to be keeping watch.

The Barn Swallows at Maple Dam Road are still very active.

This young Deer was indifferent to my presence.

This abandoned dock is at Maple Dam Road.

Great Egrets at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on July 2, 2017 by Hugh

There’s still not much being seen around here, so I went back to Blackwater, which hasn’t changed much. There are more Egrets, but everything else is about the same.

I did run into a couple of squirrels when I left.

Blackwater Dawn.

The Osprey chicks continue to do well.

Many Red Winged Blackbirds were active this morning.

I saw this Great Blue Heron as I was leaving the refuge.

There were many more Great Egrets than last week.

Several Bald Eagles were roosting along Wildlife Drive.

All that marsh, and only a single Greater Yellowlegs.

More of the Maple Dam Barn Swallows.

This Delmarva Fox Squirrel was on Egypt Drive.

Matthew and his family were crabbing at the Maple Dam Bridge.

Eastern Kingbird at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on July 1, 2017 by Hugh

I still have the problem of where to go each day, so I chose Artemesia this morning. The traffic is tolerable on weekends, and it doesn’t get busy until 9:00 or so.

More Wood Ducks are out, but no Egrets and only one Heron. Hummingbirds are are scarce, and passerines in general are hard to find.

This Eastern Kingbird seemed to be watching me.

I saw this Brown Thrasher shortly after I arrived.

Most Barn Swallow chicks have fledged.

This Wood Duck hen was keeping close watch over her ducklings.

Many Mourning Dives feed in the grass at Artemesia.

A few Mallards were foraging in the lake.

Barn Swallows at Maple Dam Bridge.

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Hugh

I went to Blackwater again, and it was a good trip. I’m still not hearing about much around here, and Blackwater is holding up well.

I got there just before dawn and got a few sunrise shots, then went around Wildlife drive several times. My skunk friend was briefly in view, but Herons and Egrets have greatly decreased. I spotted the first Snowy Egrets of the year, but couldn’t get a shot.

Other birds were more cooperative, including an Osprey family and an Orchard Oriole.

Blackwater Dawn.

It’s easy to find a Rabbit at Blackwater.

Egret numbers are down greatly.

This Osprey family is doing very well.

The Red Headed Woodpecker landed right in front of me.

Eastern Kingbirds are often waiting right by the side of the road.

Two Orchard Orioles were foraging in the bushes. Probably a family.

A single Greater Yellowlegs was feeding on the flats.

The Great Crested Flycatcher stayed in view for a while.

I usually look for Eagles at Maple Dam Bridge, but these Barn Swallows are nesting under the bridge.

Andy, and his father, Andy, were crabbing at the bridge, and doing well.

Great Egret at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Hugh

The weather looked promising, and there’s still not much to see around here, so I went back to Blackwater this morning. I’m not fond of the hour and a half drive, but it’s where the birds are at the moment.

I did well enough. Herons and Egrets are still foraging in t he marsh, and Ospreys and Eagles are active. A few smaller birds are around, and I found a Groundhog who didn’t pose, and a Delmarva Fox Squirrel who did.

Blackwater Dawn.

This Great Blue Heron may have spent the night in this tree.

I caught this Great Egret just as he launched.

The Red Headed Woodpecker was a little more elusive today.

Eastern Kingbirds are still hanging out near Wildlife Drive.

This Eagle spooked when I got too close.

This Delmarva Fox Squirrel was sitting by the side of the road.

Mephitis mephitis at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Hugh

OK, it’s a Skunk. Mephitis mephitis looks better in a title.

There’s still not much going on around here, so I headed back to Blackwater again. I can’t complain about the results, although I wasn’t really looking for mammals.

I actually did OK with the birds, and I suppose I’ll have to go back soon.

Blackwater Dawn.

This Great Blue Heron flew in early and landed very near to me.

This young Osprey is trying out his new wings.

The Osprey chicks are doing well.

I spotted this Brown headed Nuthatch while I was looking for hummingbirds.

This Mallard was taking a morning nap.

Red Winged Blackbirds are singing all along Wildlife Drive.

I found only a single Killdeer.

Several Eastern Kingbirds were flycatching along Wildlife Drive.

Far fewer Great Egrets are feeding than did last week.

The Delmarva Fox Squirrel appeared as I was leaving.

This daytime Fox seemed right at home posing for me.

I’ve only seen two Skunks in my photography career (They’re nocturnal).,

Barn Swallows at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on June 25, 2017 by Hugh

I met Graeme at Lake Artemesia this morning, and we had an OK morning. We definitely had more birds and more variety last year, but it’s hard to say if that means anything.

Tree Swallows were still fledging, and we found a single Barn Swallow still on its nest.