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Author Archives: Hugh
American Avocets at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.
I’ve been visiting CBEC daily for a week or so. The low water has attracted hundreds of waterfowl and provided lots of photo opportunities. The water is so low that the resident carp are dying. I’ve never seen the lake water level so low.
The Tricolored Herons are continuing, along with Terns, Sandpipers and Ospreys. It’s been too hot to stay a long time, but it’s working out.
The Avocets have been seen several times, but I was lucky to get any look at all. They flew in, circled a few times and left.
All the mud you see is usually covered.
I mean, we had a lot of Egrets
I’ve see 100 or more Snowy Egrets at CBEC most days this week.
This Great Egret has found an eel.
A quick stop at my neighbor’s feeder.
We’ve been seeing 20,or more Tricolored Herons each day.
Several Laughing Gulls have been visiting.
6-8 Greater Yellowlegs are visiting.
There’s often a few Killdeer in the mud flats.
Several Ospreys are still in the area.
12 American Avocets flew in for a brief visit.
Roseate Spoonbill at Bombay Hook NWR.
Graeme and I spent the morning at Bombay Hook NWR, and had a very good day! We started with a Peregrine Falcon, and went on to a Least Bittern and a Common Gallinule, two life birds.
I had several overexposures because the light was much better than I’m used to. Must check more often.
The locals told us the Spoonbills hadn’t been appearing, but we got lucky on the second go around, and found them quite close to the road.
Avocets, Stilts and Ibises rounded out the list.
Glossy Ibises are quite striking.
Bombay Hook is a reliable place to find Black Necked Stilts.
This Common Gallinule is a first for me.
We saw about 35 Wood Ducks. These are first year birds.
There were thousands of Semi Palmated Sandpipers.
Many Great Blue herons were fishing in the marsh.
A few dozen Forster’s Terns were rapidly fishing.
My best look at a Laughing Gull this year.
You can often find Goldfinches in the growth by the roadside.
This Least Bittern was quite ar away, and I overexposed the shot. Lesson learned.
This Least Bittern was quite far away, and I overexposed the shot. Lesson learned.
Two of many dozens of Great Egrets we saw.
We were lucky to get a good look at these rare visitor.
Great Egret at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.
We’ve had decent weather the last week, with little rain and tolerable temps. The water level at CBEC has remained quite low for 2-3 weeks, and the waders are taking advantage. I have never seen so many egrets there.
I had 100 Snowy Egrets today, 25 Great Egret, and 8 Tricoloreds, That’s a good day. I seem to have inadvertently popularized the place, as more photographers keep showing up.
Low water has revealed a lot of mud for the waders.
This Redhead hen should be far from here. She may be inured.
With so many birds competing for food, there’s the occasional disagreement.
These Tricolored Herons have decided to roost in a tree right above my head.
About 100 Canada Geese are present each morning.
I was startled to see these Glossy Ibis do a quick flyby.
Tricolored Heron at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.
We’re still in the birding doldrums around here. I suspect they’re just not as plentiful, as most have finished nesting and just aren’t as active.
At this time of year I have more fun in the marshes, where there’s a good variety of species and a chance for a rarity or two, like The Tricolored Herons. (Banding Code TRHE).
Egrets have been plentiful, the Tree Swallows seem to have mostly moved, and a few Barn Swallows are still here. Passerines are elusive, and I’ve only gotten a few images.
Sunrise at Possum Point.
You can find Black Crowned Night Herons at Kent Narrows most mornings.
This Green Heron was feeding at the USNA marina.
Great Blue Herons will often spook as you approach in the early morning.
It took a little doing to get this Osprey image aligned properly
These Snowy Egrets are spending time at CBEC.
I’ve been seeing larger flocks of Forster’s Terns than usual.
Least Sandpipers are frequent visitors at CBEC.
There are many Common Yellowthroat Warblers in the marsh, but their song eludes me.
Many Wood Duck chicks are thriving at Jonas green.
A midsummer nest repair
Tricolored Herons are becoming regular Summer visitors.
Green Heron at Jonas Green Park.
It’s the slowest time of the year and it’s getting hot. I’m visiting the same places almost daily and not finding much interesting. There may just be fewer birds, or I may need a new game plan. I suspect I’ve lost a step or two, as I feel my longer walks more than usual.
Both Possum Point and Sandy Point have made it hard to get in for sunrise photos, and my few trips there this year haven’t found much. Likewise for CBEC and Terrapin.
The pond at Jonas Green has been my salvation for the last few weeks. Herons, Ducks and Blackbirds are plentiful and usually will pose at least briefly.
Heron sculpture at Quiet Waters Park.
A Tree Swallow rests alongside a Barn Swallow.
I found this Snowy Egret at CBEC.
This Green Heron was fishing on the entrance road to CBEC.
Distant Heron nest at Jonas Green.
A Great Blue Heron foraging at CBEC.
Yellow Breasted Chat at Greenbury Point.
It’s been a good year for Bluebirds.
You can usually find Goldfinches at Greenbury Point.
It’s the season of Wood Duck chicks!
This Carolina Wren was singing loudly at Greenbury Point.
Eastern Bluebirds have been plentiful this year.
A pair of Green Herons is hanging out at Jonas Green Park.
Trumpeter Swans at Sandy Point.
It’s that time of year when things slow down, and there may be some kind of cicada effect this year. Is it possible I’m seeing fewer birds because they’re finding food more easily? I haven’t seen that many birds eating cicadas, but others have.
It seems odd to see Trumpeter Swans at a beach, but they’ve been seen there several times in the past couple of months. They were very cooperative and ate a lot of cicadas.
Otherwise, Bluebirds and Ospreys dominated. The water is still high at CBEC, so I haven’t crossed the bridge much. I’m keeping an eye on the Ebird reports.
Sunrise at Possum Point.
This Double Crested Cormorant was fishing at Schoolhouse Pond.
The Possum Point Ospreys seem to have chicks.
Yellow Breasted Chats are often heard, but can be difficult to see.
A few Cedar Waxwings have been appearing here and there.
There seems to be more Eastern Bluebirds than usual.
This Eastern Screech Owl has been at Quiet Waters for quite a while.
These Canada Goose chicks were sleeping in the sand.
Nobody likes the poor old Cowbird, who lays her eggs in other bird’s nests.
I’m seeing fewer Goldfinches than usual.
This Great Crested Flycatcher was at Jonas Green Park. First time I’ve seen one there.
I found this Wood Duck and her chicks at Jonas Green Park.
Trumpeter Swans are the largest flying waterfowl, reaching 30 pounds with an 8 foot wingspan.
The Trumpeter Swan Society used some of my images.Blue Angels at Truxtun Park.
It’s been a slowish birding week, topped off by the Annual Blue Angels show yesterday. I’m lucky enough to live near a local park where I get good views of much of the show. The best place is from a boat, or nearer the river, but those spots are taken early, and very crowded.
I did manage a couple of decent birds this week as well. I got to CBEC and Terrapin this week, and both yielded a few images.
Dawn at Possum Point.
Semi Palmated Plover at CBEC.
The Tree Swallows at CBEC use feathers in their nests.
These Snowy Egrets were feeding at Terrapin.
An early morning Great Blue Heron.
This Great Crested Flycatcher was gathering nesting material at CBEC.
This Canvasback hen is way overdue to migrate.
I see Canada Goose goslings in every marsh.
Photos don’t really capture the speed and the sound.
Baltimore Orioles at Buddy Attick Park.
It’s been a week, but a busy and somewhat productive week. We’re finally getting some migrants with regularity.
Where to go? I’ve tried a few places without much luck, but it’s often a crapshoot even at peak migration. I’m getting too old for all day marathons, so I’m usually just hitting two or three places.
Anyway, here’s the best stuff from the last week.
Sunrise at Possum Point.
This Spotted Sandpiper was at Jonas Green Park.
Mallards are plentiful at Quiet Waters.
This Eastern Bluebird has found a nice breakfast.
Yellow Breasted Chats, with their bizarre song, are always a treat to find.
Lincoln’s Sparrow is an unusual find, and only happens during migration. This one was at Greenbury Point.
Orchard Orioles are present at Greenbury Point, but will they stay?
I wanted better light for this Carolina Chickadee.
Worthy of inclusion only because it’s a Common Goldeneye, and should be way North of here.
Common Yellowthroats are singing in every marsh.
This Great Blue Heron flew right into the sunrise.
There are dozens of Black Vultures at Sandy Point, often gathered ’round the dumpsters.
The Red Winged Blackbird may be our most numerus bird.
You can’t go far without hearing a Cardinal.
Swamp Sparrows have just arrived, and some will stay to breed.
This Osprey was resting at Possum Point.
This Cooper’s Hawk and his partner, flew overhead this morning at Possum Point.
Double Crested Cormorants are regulars at Possum Point.
Many Gray Catbirds are feeding at Greenbury Point.
This Baltimore was nesting at Buddy Attick Park.
Prothonotary Warbler at Huntley Meadows.
We’re getting some good migrants almost every day. I’m hearing about more than I see, but I’m doing OK, thank you.
Graeme and I went to Huntley Meadows overnight, and it’s a great place. A boardwalk through the marsh puts many good birds right in front of you. A few reptiles appeared as well.
Greenbury Point is hosting some good migrants, and I’ll be posting some before too long. I thought the Trumpeter Swans had left, but I relocated them this morning. How long will they stay?
The boardwalk at Huntley Meadows.
This Common Grackle has a strange iridescence,
Wood Ducks have been easy to find recently.
This Common Yellowthroat was singing loudly.
Female Red Winged Blackbirds always seem to be in the minority.
A Prothonotary Warbler is always a bit startling.
Gray Catbirds arrived only a few days ago.
I’m seeing Chipping Sparrows almost daily.
Yet another Grackle.
A Spring Cardinal.
Barn Swallows are building nests.
This Bluebird is feeding his young.
We saw several Hooded Mergansers with chicks.
Green Herons were feeding in the marsh.
This is from the Heronry at Jonas Green Park.
The Trumpeter Swans were in Woolchurch Pond this morning.
Several Great Blue Herons were fishing.
This Great Blue Heron seemed to catch a crayfish with every attempt.
Eastern Kingbirds have arrived. Thy seem to thrive at Greenbury Point.
A Bald Eagle nest at Dyke Marsh.
This Gray Tree Frog lives in a hole, and the locals say he’s often visible.
A very large Snapping Turtle.