Immature Eastern Towhee at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Hugh

“Another day in paradise”, as they say. I don’t mind going out in marginal weather, but I’m getting spoiled with this run of excellent birding weather.
M first immature Towhee had me stumped until I got some help from the experts at AA Bird club. A begging vireo was a nice find, but many birds stayed partly hidden in the foliage, frustrating me a great deal. I did find a few more nice bugs.

This female Northern Cardinal seemed to be watching me.

This appears to be a first year Magnolia Warbler.

This is my first immature Eastern Towhee.

This White Eyed Vireo was begging for food, probably from a parent.

I’m not positive this is a Northern Parula.

Several birds stayed partially hidden today, like this Yellow Billed Cuckoo.

This Brown Thrasher was also reluctant to show himself.

Caterpillar 14 Turbulent Phosphila Moth caterpillar

All these bugs make good bird food.

Northern Waterthrush at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Hugh

Early Fall is the time to be a birder in MD! It was a bit cloudy, but temps were in the high 60s and never got too high. It took a while, but I found a couple of migrant flocks in the trees around the pond near the parking lot.
Several warblers cooperated, and the insect haul was righteous.

Another Tennessee Warbler. Definite migrant.

This Northern Waterthrush is a first for me.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Northern Flicker.

This Black and White Warbler posed with a White Eyed Vireo.

Downy Woodpeckers are becoming more visible.

I often see Red Bellied Woodpeckers on this dead tree.

This Northern Parula is probably a migrant.

I’m not sure which Empidonax Flycatcher this is.

Catbirds are everywhere.

This Chestnut Sided Warbler was partially obscured.

This Magnolia Warbler was the first bird I saw this morning.

Moth 7 Leafhopper (Speckled Sharpshooter)

Bug 4 Leafhopper (Speckled Sharpshooter)

Bug 3 Leafhopper (Speckled Sharpshooter)

The bugs were very good to me today.

Northern Parula at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Hugh

Early Fall weather in Maryland seems to be ideal for the birdwatcher. A nearly cloudless sky and moderate temperatures made for comfortable walking and good light.
While not as prolific as yesterday, Governor Bridge is still hosting many migrants and not a few bugs. I missed some warblers who were feeding in dense cover, but I’m OK with the day’s haul.

I was lucky to catch this Yellow Billed Cuckoo as he took off.

White Eyed Vireos are usually hard to find.

This Magnolia Warbler was feeding rapidly.

I had to get help identifying this first year Northern Parula.

I had a good day with the bugs.

Tennessee Warbler at Governor Natural Area

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Hugh

Good weather and good birds!
I met Graeme at Governor Bridge very early with the intention of trying out some bug photography, but first we looked for birds, and did very well. Migration seems to be well under way, and we saw our fair share this morning. Afterward, we roamed the woods, and Graeme showed me some tricks for getting sharp images of small critters.

I caught this distant Baltimore Oriole just as he took off.

Sunrise at Governor Bridge

Ruby Throated Hummingbirds will be heading South in a few weeks.

I saw several Magnolia Warblers.

This Common Yellowthroat landed quite near me.

Red Eyed Vireos were abundant once again.

Dozens of Blue Gray Gnatcatchers were in the trees.

This Carolina Wren was feeding right alongside the other birds.

This Tennessee Warbler was a nice find as I’ve seen only a few.

This Prairie Warbler was very elusive.

Saddleback Caterpillar
Saddleback Caterpillar

The folks at MD Biodiversity tell me this is a Differential Grasshopper.
Differential Grasshopper

Taken with Graeme’s 55mm Nikkor Micro lens.

Pine Warbler at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Hugh

Where to go?-that is the question. After vacillating, I decided to go back to Terrapin, which wasn’t awful, but not as good as yesterday. I did get to see a very close Bald Eagle, my first in a while. I had to work this morning, so I cut short the Terrapin trip to take a quick run by CBEC, where I was greeted by a Pine Warbler, my first since Spring. Some egrets and another warbler made it worthwhile.

This shows the contrast in size between the Great Egret and the Snowy Egret.

There were about 20 Great and Snowy Egrets feeding in the lake.

I saw Prairie Warblers at Terrapin and CBEC.

This Orchard Oriole was feeding right alongside the warblers.

I was surprised to see this Pine Warbler perched on a power line.

One tree at Terrapin seemed to be full of American Redstarts.

I’d like more variety in the warblers, but I’ll settle for a Chestnut Sided Warbler.

I haven’t gotten this close to a deer in a while.

Four Warblers at Terrapin Nature Park

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Hugh

I decided to go back to Terrapin after yesterday’s good luck, and I did reasonably well. I had some technical problems with over-exposing some shots, but I was able to make a reasonable recovery.
When the birds quit biting, I found some colorful bugs.

Yellow-Collared Scape Moth http://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/viewSpecies.php?species=2515 MD Biodiversity says this is the first record for Queen Anne’s County.

Summer Azure

Insect Ailanthus Webworm Moth

Bald Faced Hornet

attachment_id=10260″ rel=”attachment wp-att-10260″> Blue Gray Gnatcatchers are as active at Terrapin as elsewhere.

Magnolia Warblers are among my favorites.

I’m still finding American Redstarts regularly.

This Chestnut Sided Warbler is in Fall plumage.

This is the first Yellow Breasted Chat I’ve seen at Terrapin.

Cedar Waxwings will be around the park for a while.

Chestnut Sided Warbler at Terrapin Nature Park

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Hugh

Nearly perfect weather had me going back to Terrapin, where I had high hopes for migrants. I got a good loook at me nemesis bird, the male American Redstart, but not quite the image I want. A few other nice birds made up for that.
I’ll likely go back tomorrow.

I was a bit surprised to see two Snowy Egrets in a tree with an Osprey.

I saw several Carolina Wrens today.

This Chestnut Sided Warbler was foraging high in the tree, and I was lucky to get this shot.

I wasn’t as lucky with this American Redstart.

I’d have liked better light, but I haven’t seen many Black Throated Green Warblers, so I’ll take it.

This Red Eyed Vireo was foraging near the warblers.

THis Indigo Bunting.may be a juvenile.

Several flocks of Cedar Waxwings were foraging in the park.

This is a first year Baltimore Oriole.

I saw several Great Crested Flycatchers today.

I got quite close to this Osprey, and I could feel him looking at me.

Brown Thrasher at Wooton Wetlands Preserve

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Hugh

The weather was better than predicted, but became hot and humid quickly. It was a disappointing day, but I still got a few nice images. Where are the migrating warblers?
This afternoon I toured the ‘hood looking for insects and found a few that I will try to ID later.

The Brown Thrasher is a striking bird.

Jumping Spider.

It’s fun finding these guys, but I need to get better at photographing them.This is a Jumping Spider.

This Red Shouldered Hawk was a little too distant for a good image.

Great Crested Flycatchers will be leaving us soon.

Indigo Buntings are much less abundant than a couple of weeks ago..

This Red Bellied Woodpecker was in a tree near the river.

This Great Egret was napping when I first saw him.

Flycatchers were very abundant.

Unknown Bird at Governor Bridge

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Hugh

Although the weather was good, the birds just weren’t cooperating today. I’m waiting for an ID on my unknown guy, but I’ll post the other guys, who are the usual suspects.

I’m not even sure this is a warbler.Edit: This turns out to be a Traill’s Flycatcher (A first for me). This is the name used when you don’t know if it’s a Willow Flycatcher or an Alder Flycatcher.