Wood Duck at Quiet Waters

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Audubon

Off to Possum Point once again to experiment with sunrise. It was a little better than yesterday, but not spectacular.

Birds were fewer, but I found an Osprey searching fore nesting material in the big field.

I spotted a pair of Wood Ducks at Quiet Waters, and they were more cooperative than usual.

Sunrise at Possum Point.

This Osprey is nesting across from the boat ramp at the marina.

Horned Grebes seem to be more plentiful this year.

Double Crested Cormorants are still hanging around in small flocks.

This may be the same Common Loon who was here yesterday.

These Wood Ducks flew off at one point, then returned.

Common Loon at Possum Point

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Audubon

I went early to Possum Point again, looking for some sunrise images, but the sky was pretty bland. Birds are easier.

The point was filled with birds, especially Ospreys, and I counted 6 active nests today. The Loon was a nice find, as I haven’t seen one for a couple of months.

Beach Road was pretty deserted, so I went on to Quiet Waters, which is starting to show signs of spring. Buffleheads and Osprey were the feature.

Sunrise at Possum Point.

A pair of Belted Kingfishers was racing around the point.

A small flock of Buffleheads was in the cove at Quiet Waters.

Double Crested Cormorants are still prolific at Possum point.

There are Ospreys everywhere you look.

These Seagulls seemed to be playing tag.

I couldn’t pass up this perfectly posed Mallard.

There were small flocks of Lesser Scaup at Possum Point and Beach Road.

The Common Loon is very handsome, and one of my favorite birds.

Common Loons look underwater for prey before diving.

Double Crested Cormorant at Possum Point

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Audubon

I was a bit late to Possum Point this morning, and missed the best sunrise colors. I took a few photos anyway and checked out the birds. Lots of Ospreys, in 5 active nests, and several flocks of Cormorants were the highlights.

Beach Road had a few Scaup and Canvasbacks, as well as Grebes.

I finished up at Jonas Green Park, which didn’t have much to offer.

Another Possum Point sunrise.

This shot was taken with the 500mm lens.

It’s not hard to find a Song Sparrow at Jonas Green.

These Horned Grebes were at Jonas Green Park.

The skies around Possum Point are filled with Ospreys at this time of year.

A small flock of Lesser Scaup is till hanging out at Beach Road.

These Canada Geese were in the small pond across from Jonas Green.

Mallards are found in all the waters around the bay.

Possum Point has been a favorite spot for Double Crested Cormorants as long as I’ve been going there.

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker at Truxtun Park

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Audubon

I had to work this morning, and there was rain until noon, so I only got out for a short while.

There wasn’t much to see at the park, but a sapsucker showed himself briefly and the shadows on the bridge looked promising.

The mid afternoon sun looked cool on the bridge.

I haven’t seen many Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers this year.

Heron Rookery in Arnold, MD

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Audubon

A friend (Thanks, Doug), invited Graeme and I to view a Heron Rookery on his property this morning, and it was quite a trip. The nest are 50-60 feet in the air, and we saw at least 7 occupied nests. With any luck we’ll be able to check on their progress over the next couple of months.

There were plenty of other birds about also, including Pileated Woodpeckers, Kingfishers and ducks. A very good day.

Great Blue Herons nest high off the ground.

It appeared that a Raccoon had been walking on the beach.

This Eastern Phoebe is my first of the season.

A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers seem to be preparing to nest in the area.

Two Ospreys were fishing nearby.

We saw several Belted Kingfishers.

The Great Blue Herons were very active, preening, calling and mating all morning.

Belted Kingfisher at Quiet Waters

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Audubon

`I started out at Beach Road this morning, but the strong wind and cold temps made me cut it short. There wasn’t much to see, in any case.

Quiet Waters was much better, with ducks, Ospreys, Eagles and my best look at a Kingfisher in flight to date.

This Double Crested Cormorant was the only image I got at Beach Road.

I often wonder if this is the same Great Blue Heron each time I see him in the cove.

Ospreys are doing well at Quiet Waters.

This Mallard flew in close, and the light was just right.

The Osprey is defending his nest from this juvenile Bald Eagle.

A small flock of Red Breasted Mergansers was feeding near the cove.

I spent a lot of time tracking these Belted Kingfishers this morning, and it paid off.

Osprey at Truxtun Park

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Audubon

It was an ugly looking morning, and I had a 9:30 appointment, so I made a quick trip to Quiet Waters to see if I could get lucky. I found a couple of birds, then went to work, followed by a nap.

This afternoon, I stopped at Truxtun Park without finding much, but a lone Osprey made it worthwhile.

This Horned Grebe was diving for breakfast at Quiet Waters.

These Wood Ducks were a good distance away, and the new camera made them usable.

This Osprey is nesting at the ball field at Truxtun Park, where there’s been a nest for many years.

Greater Scaup at Quiet Waters Park

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Audubon

It’s still awfully cold for Spring. It was still in the thirties this morning when I went to Possum Point. I got a couple of sunrise shots, but there weren’t many ducks, so I headed to Beach Road.

Al;though there were ducks, they stayed pretty for from shore, and didn’t give me much of a chance.

Quiet Waters was also slow, with fewer birds than in recent days.