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Later

Say’s Phoebe at Sandy Point State Park.

Posted on November 10, 2016 by Hugh

After another ordinary sunrise, I went looking for the Say’s Phoebe that was reported in the area, to no avail.

I spent an hour a Terrapin without seeing anything interesting, then went to CBEC, which was only marginally better.

On the way home, I stopped at Sandy Point again, and got lucky this time. This Phoebe belongs many (1000 or more) miles west of here, so it’s quite a treat to find one.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

This Bald Eagle flew over my head at CBEC.

Cornell: “Like other phoebes, the rusty-bellied Say’s Phoebe is common around people, often nesting on buildings. A bird of open country, it is found from Alaska through Mexico.”

Pied Billed Grebe at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Hugh

With the earlier sunrise, I decided to try Artemesia this morning to see if I could beat the traffic. It wasn’t too bad, but not as good as a weekend.

There was fog early, but it cleared up around 8:30 and I found a few good birds.

Views of Lake Artemesia.

This Mallard looked too good to pass up.

There’s always a few Mockingbirds nearby.

A few Song Sparrows were foraging at Lakeside.

Cedar Waxwings were feeding in large numbers.

This Pied Billed Grebe got closer than most.

Eastern Bluebird at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Hugh

I stopped at Sandy Point again this morning, but it was yet another plain jane sunrise, so I passed.

Terrapin was almost a complete bust, with only a few geese and seagulls to show for the effort. The small birds seem to be hiding.

CBEC was more active, with ducks and sparrows, as well as a few very fast hawks.

There were hundreds of Cedar Waxwings at Possum Point.

Many Dark Eyed Juncos were feeding in the bushes.

This lone Goldfinch was perched on the access road.

This Mallard flew over the marsh.

I found this Northern Flicker at Greenbury Point yesterday.

Mallards always look good in the right light.

This is only the second time I’ve seen Northern Pintails at CBEC.

This Bald Eagle was fishing near the marina.

CBEC had a lot of Bluebirds today. They’ve been scarce in other places.

American Coot at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on November 5, 2016 by Hugh

On Saturdays it’s possible to drive into the DC area without fighting commuter traffic, so I went back to Lake Artemesia. Early morning fog was a bummer, but it burned off after a while, and there were a few interesting birds around, including several duck species.

Some weren’t close enough for good pics, but I got a few decent shots.

I made a quick stop at Buddy Attick on the way home, without any success.

The Gazebo at Lake Artemesia.

I found a small flock of Lesser Scaup when I first arrived.

Several Pied Billed Grebes were foraging in the lake.

This Song Sparrow was one of the few small birds I found.

I found this Cooper’s Hawk yesterday at Greenbury Point.

A flock of 50 or more Cedar Waxwings was feeding near the lake.

This Blue Jay was also at Greenbury Point.

The American Coot is a dabbler.

Eastern Towhee at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on November 3, 2016 by Hugh

The sunrise was about average this morning, and very few birds were in evidence at Sandy Point. This warm weather has to be a factor.

It wasn’t really any better at Terrapin. The sparrow bonanza of a few days ago has dissipated, and very few waterfowl are about.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

My favorite cove at Quiet Waters.

There are plenty of White Throated Sparrows around but they don’t pose very often.

I found this Eastern Towhee as I was leaving.

Dark Eyed Junco at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Hugh

The Sparrows have finally arrived! Terrapin had hundreds of sparrows today, in several areas. I kept looking for hawks, who surely would have noticed the bonanza. The marsh ponds were barren, but I expect there’ll be ducks there soon.

I also stopped at CBEC, which was slow, but had some distant ducks and a few cooperative nuthatches.

The Bay Bridge from Terrapin beach. It was seriously windy today.

This is a Golden Crowned Kinglet.

This appears to be a Chipping Sparrow.

I don’t recall seeing a Ruddy Duck out of the water before.

Brown Headed Nuthatches are small and fast.

Song Sparrows were also numerous.

I often find White Throated Sparrows on the ground.

I was lucky to catch this Ruby Crowned Kinglet with his”crown” exposed.

Dark Eyed Juncos were numerous.

Ring Necked Duck at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Hugh

I did well enough yesterday to justify a return trip, and it was good enough. I was surprised to find myself going around in shirt sleeves this morning. Seems very odd for nearly November.

The Ring Necks and Ruddy were a little closer today. A few Wood Ducks were around as well, but a bit too far away.

A view of the lake.

This Great Blue Heron was very intent on his fishing.

This Robin found himself a nice berry bonanza.

I got a nice pose from this Yellow Rumped Warbler.

I needed just a bit more shutter speed for this Wood Duck.

A nice close up of this male Ruddy Duck.

This is a male Ring Necked Duck.

Pied Billed Grebe at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on October 29, 2016 by Hugh

I finally found some birds after three consecutive days of zilch. I do this for fun, but that wasn’t fun. I blame the very warm Fall, but who knows?

I heard that things were better at Buddy Attick and Lake Artemesia, so that’s where I went.

Buddy Attick had a good selection, and I spent a couple of hours there.

Artemesia was good as well, even if many of the birds were too far out for good images.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

This is a female Eastern Towhee.

I heard this Carolina Wren long before I saw him.

This Downy Woodpecker just ignored me as he fed.

I caught this Blue Jay as he was moving.

This lone Great Blue Heron was at Buddy Attick.

This Brown Thrasher was at Buddy Attick.

This Great Blue Heron was fishing at Possum Point.

I found this Chickadee at Quiet Waters.

This White Throated Sparrow is from Greenbury Point.

I’ve seen Double Crested Cormorants every where I go.

A single Pied Billed Grebe was cruising the lake.

Winter Wren at Greenbury Point.

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Hugh

Between bad weather and bad luck, I haven’t had much to post lately.

Today’s sunrise was far too banal to record, so I took a chance on Greenbury Point, which was a big disappointment a few days ago. Today was much better. Sparrows have been on the move lately, and activity has picked up in general.

This Eastern Towhee was at Terrapin.

This Eastern Towhee posed at a very odd angle.

White Throated Sparrows will be with us until March.

This Goldfinch is in Winter plumage.

This Bald Eagle flew right over my head.

Cormorants at dawn.

I was lucky to catch this Winter Wren, who only came out briefly.

I found this Fox at Sandy Point yesterday.

Eastern Phoebe at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Hugh

Sandy Point was a little better than usual this morning. It’s been fairly boring of late.

I got out out every day this week, but it’s been tough to find anything worth photographing. Terrapin is finally getting some small birds, and I expect they’ll stay for a while.