After a quick trip to stock up on Thanksgiving goodies, I traveled to Wooton’s Landing for another look at this very promising park. It has extensive marsh area, and borders the Patuxent River, so the habitat is quite varied. Still, it was quite slow today. I did see a couple of hawks who wouldn’t pose, and a Belted Kingfisher taking a break. I made a quick stop at Truxtun Park on the way home and got a couple of decent pictures.

This Downy Woodpecker was in a group of small trees, so I had to move around a bit to get a clear look.

I heard this Belted Kingfisher making his distinctive rattling call long before I saw him.,

I still get a thrill when a hawk flies close enough for a decent picture. and I think I’m getting better at capturing the images.

The two Mallard drakes were bobbing their heads up and down rapidly, which may be some kind of courtship behavior.

This Great Blue Heron didn’t move for at least half an hour. I presume he was sleeping.

This is an attempt to incorporate the sunlit grass into the picture.

An early appointment kept me from getting out until 100:00 or so, but I left for Sandy Point under mostly sunny skies with an optimistic outlook.
A few minutes into the park, optimism was fading fast. There are plenty of birds, including large flocks of Dark Eyed Juncos, Sparrow, woodpeckers and gulls, but other birds aren’t around in any numbers. I walked the entire perimeter of the park with very little success.

This Dark Eyed Junco was part of a large and active flock.

You can see just a hint of epaulette on the right shoulder of this Red Winged Blackbird.

It took some time to get a good look at this Red Bellied Woodpecker who investigated this tree in depth.

Mockingbirds thrive at the park.

Sandy Point Lighthouse. The original lighthouse was built in 1883.
More details can be found here:
Lighthouse Friends