Red Shouldered Hawk at Greenbury Point

It was sunny and very cold this morning. I got to Greenbury Point about dawn, and was greeted by a Red Shouldered Hawk looking for breakfast. unfortunately, it was very slow after that, and only a few birds worthy of photos appeared. I did see a few ducks in the bay, so things will be picking up soon.

Red Shouldered Hawk

Red Shouldered Hawk 64

Red Shouldered Hawk

This Red Shouldered Hawk had his back to me, so I was able to sneak up reasonably close.

Bluebird

Bluebird

Bluebird

I saw several very active flocks of Bluebirds.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagles frequently fly over the point.

White Throated Sparrow

White Throated Sparrows are feeding along the edge of every field.

Song Sparrow

It’s not always easy to get this close to a Song Sparrow.

Hermit Thrush at Terrapin Nature Center

The weather continues to be near perfect, but I’m not getting the variety of birds I’d like. Well, the ducks will be here soon, and all will be well.

White Throated Sparrow

White Throated Sparrows are very active when they feed.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

I’ve always liked the look of a Red Bellied Woodpecker.

Hermit Thrush

I haven’t seen a Hermit Thrush since the Spring.

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrows were eating alongside the white throats.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglets will ignore you when they’re feeding.

Yellow  Rumped Warbler

Yellow  Rumped Warbler

Yellow Rumped Warblers were in every corner of the park.

Northern Mockingbird

This Northern Mockingbird let me get very close.

Eastern Towhee at Governor Bridge Natural Area

It was quite cold this morning, but warmer temps were promised, so I headed out to Governor Bridge. It was very slow, and I didn’t see as much variety as I’d hoped for. Still, I got a few nice images.

Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbirds are still hanging out at the lake.

Northern Flicker

I saw several Northern Flickers.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglets are still feeding rapidly.

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrows seem to be the most common sparrow at the moment.

Carolina Wren

I heard Carolina Wrens all over the park.

Eastern Towhee

Some Eastern Towhees may winter here.

Great Horned Owl at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center

The weatherman was calling for cloudy skies, but, had he looked outside, he would have seen a lot of blue. I decided to try the Eastern Shore, and it worked out well. I was greeted at Terrapin by hawks, eagles and kinglets. I did so well that I decided to try CBEC, which is just a few miles away. I was surprised to find out they have some rehab raptors, and I got a few nice shots.

Yellow  Rumped Warbler

Yellow  Rumped Warbler

Yellow  Rumped Warbler

Yellow Rumped Warblers are so common now that there must be millions of them.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

I saw the “Crown” of these Ruby Crowned Kinglets more today than any day in the past.

Barred Owl

Barred Owl

I have yet to see a Barred Owl in the wild.

Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl is an awesome sight.

Red Tailed Hawk

This Red Tailed Hawk is in rehab for some kind of injury.

Blue Jay

Blue Jays are still migrating.

Dark Eyed Junco

Dark Eyed Juncos are becoming more common.

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

I was lucky to get some close ups of this Sharp-Shinned Hawk before he spotted me.

Cardinal 131Northern Cardinal

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagles are almost commonplace at this time of year.

Bluebird

Bluebirds stay here year round.

White Throated Sparrow

This White Throated Sparrow will be in Canada in the Spring.

American Goldfinch at Sands Road Park

I had no clear idea where to go today, so the truck pointed itself to Sands Road and I went along.
Clear and sunny skies looked promising, but I didn’t see the variety of birds I’d hoped for. I was especially surprised to see no raptors in this perfect hunting ground.
I did get a few sparrows, and it was a decent day all in all.

White Throated Sparrow

White Throated Sparrow

White Throated Sparrows are abundant wherever I go.

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrows are common most of the year.

Field Sparrow

Field Sparrows are a little harder to find.

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch in Winter is not as striking as his Spring and Summer counterpart.

Northern Mockingbird

The Northern Mockingbird can often be seen singing from the top of a tree.

Carolina Wren

Carolina Wren

The Carolina Wren can be heard in most wooded areas.

Dark Eyed Junco

I’m not seeing Dark Eyed Juncos in large numbers yet.

Rusty Blackbird at Governor Bridge Natural Area

With promising weather, I decided to try to change my luck this morning, and returned to Governor Bridge. It looks quite different, with many of the leaves fallen, and the bird population has changed also. Bald Eagles were soaring overhead, and some birds were easier to find with better visibility.
I even found a few bugs.

Bear

There must be a story behind this bear abandoned near one of the ponds.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

There was a pair of Bald Eagles soaring over the park.

Cedar Waxwing 127

Cedar Waxwing

It’s been a while since I’ve seen Cedar Waxwings.

Robin

Robin

Robin

This Robin was eating berries as fast as he could.

Brown Thrasher

Brown Thrasher

This Brown Thrasher couldn’t have landed much closer.

Rusty Blackbird 4Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird

This is only the second Rusty Blackbird I’ve seen.

Chickadee

If it’s quiet, you can hear Chickadees everywhere in the park.

Bluebird

Bluebird

This lovely Bluebird posed in a nice place.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

I don’t often see the red “Crown” on a Ruby Crowned Kinglet.

Song Sparrow

This Song Sparrow was foraging near the lake.

Dragonfly

There aren’t many Dragonflies left at this time of year.

Golden Crowned Kinglet at Quiet Waters

Temps were more seasonable today, with bright sunshine. I left early for Quiet Waters, and I quickly found a few birds, but not much variety. The ducks will be here soon.
I stopped at Truxtun Park briefly also, but there was very little to see.
It was far too windy to look for bugs.

Golden Crowned Kinglet

Golden Crowned Kinglet

Golden Crowned Kinglet

Golden Crowned Kinglet

A small flock of Golden Crowned Kinglets was feeding near the road.

Red Winged Blackbird.

There are far fewer Red Winged Blackbirds than last month..

Bluebird

This Bluebird was at Truxtun Park.

Bluebird

White Throated Sparrow

White Throated Sparrow

White Throated Sparrows are everywhere.

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker at Quiet Waters

Another November Summer day convinced me to give Wooton a try, and it was a little disappointing. The variety was quite limited, even though the weather was perfect.
I had to run some errands in Annapolis, so I stopped at Quiet Waters afterward, and found a nice variety of bugs.

White Throated Sparrow

White Throated Sparrow

This White Throated Sparrow was one of the few cooperative birds at Wooton.

Yellow  Rumped Warbler

Yellow Rumped Warblers are the default warbler ’til Spring.

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

A pair of Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers was playing in the woods.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

This Ruby Crowned Kinglet was more cooperative than most.

Today's Bugs

Today’s Bugs

Spider 94

Spider 95

Insect 87

Insect 88

Insect 89

Insect 90

Insect 91

Insect 92

Insect 93

Insect 94

Insect 95

Insect 96

Insect 97Today’s Bugs.

Yellow Rumped Warbler at Quiet Waters

Yet another morning rain, so I missed the best part of the day. I managed to get to Quiet Waters around 3:30, only to find very few birds. The bugs surprised me, but it was unusually warm, which probably accounts for it.

Yellow  Rumped Warbler

Yellow  Rumped Warbler

Yellow Rumped Warblers continue to gather in large numbers.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

I you live in this area, go outside and look around to see a Ruby Crowned Kinglet.

Spider Web 13

Fly 6

Insect 86

Praying Mantis 20

Praying Mantis 19

Praying Mantis 18

Praying Mantis 17

Praying Mantis 16

Insect 85

Insect 84

Insect 83

Today's Bugs.

Today’s Bugs.