Yesterday I got to watch a Blue Jay mob a Red Shouldered Hawk. The Jay probably has a nest nearby.
Anyway, I took too many pictures, and here’s a few of them.
I couldn’t get the position I wanted, but this illustrates the Jay’s determination.
It’s been two weeks since I posted anything. We had crap weather, lots of snow and ice and not much in the way of birds.
We’re on our second consecutive 60 degree day now, and things are picking up. Wood Ducks are mating and Pileateds are drumming. The Swans and ducks are still with us, but not for much longer.
White Throated Sparrows will be with us for a while.
This Carolina Wren was singing loudly.
The average Canvasback population appears to be 200+.
There’s regularly 40-50 Tundra Swans near Thomas Point.
Dark Eyed Juncos are in every nook and crannie.
These Black Ducks are hanging out at Thomas Point.
Learn the Bluebird’s song and you’ll hear it everywhere in the park.
A pair of Red Shouldered Hawks is nesting in the park.
This Bald Eagle was perched overlooking Thomas Point.
The average Canvasback population appears to be 200+.
I hear Mourning Doves more often than I see them.
Spring Mallards can be quite feisty.
There’s usually a few Redheads in the flock.
It’s a little unusual to see a Carolina Wren cling to the bark instead of perching.
At least two pairs of Wood Ducks are nesting in the park.
This Pileated Woodpecker can do some serious damage to a tree.
Downy Woodpeckers seem to be doing well.
We had decent weather the last few days. but nothing new in the way of birds. A few interesting birds have been found, but mostly too far away to chase.
I’ve stuck with Thomas Point and Quiet Waters recently. We’re getting more cold weather in the next few days, so maybe some different ducks will bless us.
In the meantime I’m going to see about getting different images from the same old birds.
This is a large flock for our area. There are more birds left and right. I’ve estimated 400 or so birds.
I first noticed this Red Shouldered because of the reflected light, and only later noticed the second bird, who flew off.
There’s usually 200 or more Canvasbacks in the area.
There’s usually 200 or more Canvasbacks in the area. .
There’s usually 200 or more Canvasbacks in the area.
Feeding Canvasbacks cause a lot of commotion.
A few Mallards usually join in.
There’s always a small flock of Buffleheads in attendance.
A few Canada Geese are hanging with the other water birds.
There’s always a small flock of Buffleheads in attendance.
“Handsome” always comes to mind when a Redhead appears.
This Black Scoter was out at the point.
Not too much variety lately. It’s gotten colder, so there may be more good ducks, grebes and loons soon. I’m going to have travel a little further soon, to keep up.
Thomas Point was mostly disappointing, and there wasn’t anything new at Quiet Waters. The weather wasn’t much help, with several inches of snow.
I heard this Pileated Woodpecker drumming for a mate.
There’s always a few Turkey Vultures around.
You can hear Bluebirds often, but they can be hard to find.
Song Sparrows seem to hang out with the White Throated Sparrows.
You can hear Red Bellied Woodpeckers from a long way off.
I’ve seen several large flocks of Dark Eyed Juncos in the park.
Many Tufted Titmice lie in the park.
Carolina Chickadees are seriously energetic.
A Great Blue Heron in onw of the coves.
Tundra Swans hanging out with the Canvasbacks.
I see House Finches only occasionally.
Learn the song of the Carolina Wren and you’ll hear it often.
This Bald Eagle was flying near Thomas Point.
Tundra Swans often get feisty.
White Breasted Nuthatches are doing well.
I picked a Black Duck for the title because I may have overlooked them in the past. They’re actually somewhat threatened and I’m lucky to see the ones I do, mostly at Thomas Point or Bombay Hook.
Nothing new this week, but the numbers of Canvasbacks and Tundra Swans is up. Only a few ducks at the point, which is probably because of the warm weather. It’s just started to cool a bit, so we’ll see what happens.
Many Canvasbacks spend their days here.
There’s only a few Lesser Scaup hens.
There’s 200 or more Canvasbacks present.
Tundra Swans routinely stretch like this.
Black Duck, bottoms up.
Many Buffleheads remain here all winter.
Only a few Redheads have shown up so far.
There’s always a flock of Mallards in the area.
There’s a few Long Tailed Ducks out at the point.
I got to Possum Point a couple of days ago and found Scoters, which I haven’t seen there previously. There was an overflight of 75 Double Crested Cormorants, which I’ve seen before. No Ruddys, which seems unusual, but I found a large flock at Thomas Point. I’ve also glanced at Jonas Green Park, but haven’t seen anything worth stopping for.
I got some nice closeups of a Long Tailed Duck and a White Throated Sparrow. A Cardinal has been attacking my car mirror at Thomas Point, and I recorded the action.
Many Canada Geese winter in the area.
Bufflehead courtship can be a frantic affair.
Buffleheads seem to be thriving.
I’ve been seeing a lot of Cowbirds at Quiet Waters recently.
A handsome Redhead.
There’s a bout a hundred Tundra Swans near Thomas Point.
I’ve seen only a few Surf Scoters this season.
One warm day I left the window rolled down, and my Cardinal friend perched inside.
It’s not unusual for a single bird to hang out in the same place for a while. This Long Tailed Duck has been at Thomas Point over a week.
There’s a few Black Scoters at the point.
I saw a flock of 60 Dark Eyed Juncos at Quiet Waters.
This lucky shot turned out well.
It wasn’t really at Thomas Point, it was ay my friend’s house just a wee bit up the road. This Ebird checklist will show what else was about. https://ebird.org/checklist/S79167434
The weather has been quite good for a week, and I’ve been getting out most days. I finally tried going over the bridge to CBEC, and it was a total bust. My best guess is that the warm weather is keeping the ducks up North.
This is most noticeable at Thomas Point, when the usual hundreds of ducks is down to dozens. This is not the first time weather has affected the winter bird population.
SO, Quiet Waters and Thomas Point are sustaining me at the moment and that suits me. There’s still plenty of virus around and I’d like to avoid it.
I’ve been seeing a few Chipping Sparrows.
Tufted Titmice are always active.
Many Cowbirds have started showing up at Quiet Waters.
Great Blue Herons seem to be around all Winter.
There is a large Mallard Population.
Red Breasted Nuthatches are still in the area.
Lesser Scaup aren’t as numerous as in previous years.
I saw a flock of 60 Dark Eyed Juncos.
Song Sparrows can be quite pretty.
Buffleheads seem to be very common right now.
Canada Geese can be quite boisterous.
I’ve seen only a few Surf Scoters.
Tundra Swans will occasionally stretch their wings.
This is a Mallard/Black Duck hybrid.
This Cardinal seems to peck at every mirror in the parking lot.
I’ve seen only a few Redheads this season.
I’m featuring a Mallard image because it’s pretty good, and I probably haven’t done much with Mallards on the past. I’m prejudiced in favor of other birds, I think.
It’s been a decent week or so; good weather, good enough birds, and good political news.
I’m still looking around for vagrants, but not finding much in the last few days. Looking for Siskins means finding Goldfinches, who feed on the same gumballs. Lots of Bluebirds and Sparrows, also. Hawks and Woodpeckers as well as a few Ducks, made for variety.
The Tufted Titmouse is sort of plain, so you need a good setting.
Buffleheads are here in large numbers.
Many Canvasbacks are in the area.
This Long Tailed Duck is a first year male who doesn’t have his adult plumage yet.
There seem to be fewer Surf Scoters than usual.
I haven’t seen the Pine Siskins in a week.
t’s hard to beat an Eastern Bluebird in good light.
This Chickadee seems to be a neat eater.
A large flock of Tundra Swans stays in the are all Winter.
There’s a few Lesser Scaup hanging around.
Learn the song of the White Breasted Nuthatch and you’ll hear them often,
I suspect there are more Dark Eyed Juncos than I’m finding They have great camouflage.
I wonder if this is the same Red Tailed Hawk I saw last month.
Carolina Wrens blend in well.
There’s usually a few Black Ducks in the area.
Canada Geese will kick up a fuss occasionally.
I often hear Red Bellied Woodpeckers, but they don’t pose this well.
Mallards can be enthusiastic at times.
Things are a little different this year. I’m laying low to avoid crowds, and generally staying close to home. It’s actually working out well, because I’m getting to know these places a little better. Even the smallest places are large enough to have several distinct areas, and I’ve been looking in the same places all the time. Now, I’m checking out some new area and finding birds. The ducks aren’t really here yet, so all is well. Quiet Waters is a large park, and there’s still more places to check out.
I heard this Red Tailed Hawk before I saw him. They can be quite loud and startling.
There are many Black Scoters at Thomas Point.
These two Long Tailed duck hens are at Thomas Point.
Only a few Long Tailed ducks have arrived so far.
Most Song Sparrows forage on the ground.
There’s always a Cardinal or two.
Tufted Titimice are cute and numerous.
You can’t walk long in a MD woods without hearing a Carolina Wren.
The usual flock of Tundra Swans is near Thomas Point.
There seems to be more Buffleheads than usual.
This Downy Woodpecker posed nicely.
House Finches aren’t as numerous as other birds.
Many Dark Eyed Juncos are wandering around the park.
There are still Pine Siskins in the area.
I saw a lot of Chipping Sparrows this morning.
I saw a lot of Chipping Sparrows this morning.
There are many small flocks of Bluebirds.