I was up early, looking at a gray and stormy sky. The weatherman was unsure so I took a chance and went out anyway.
There wasn’t enough light for a decent bird picture, so I started right in on the bugs. The Oriole came along much later, and was close enough to get a half-decent image. A few colorful bugs saved the day.

This Orchard Oriole was feeding very actively up near the lake.

Golden Backed Snipe Fly
Today’s bugs.

And a snail.

I decided to stay close to home this morning, and spent a few hours in Truxtun Park.
The Flycatcher was a nice find, but there wasn’t much else on display.
A couple of hours bug hunting was more productive.

Red Winged Blackbirds are plentiful in any local marsh.

Northern Rough Winged Swallows can be seen skimming the water’s surface.

The Great Crested Flycatcher is one of my favorite birds.

Today’s bugs.

It was another perfect Spring morning. I got to Governor Bridge early, and found a few birds right away, but the action slowed quickly. After an hour with virtually no sightings, I went bug hunting and found a couple of new ones.

Northern Cardinals were a common sight this morning.

This Common Yellowthroat was singing loudly.

I saw more Indigo Buntings than any other bird this morning.

Today’s bugs.

I haven’t been to Jonas Green in a while, so I gave it a try this morning. The Winter wood ducks were still around, and a few geese, but waterbirds were scarce. After a quick bug check, I went to Greenbury Point, where the bugs were plentiful and the birds scarce.

This Grackle was giving me “The Eye”.

This Crow played with this tennis ball for several minutes.

These Wood Ducks are much harder to see now that the vegetation around the pond has grown.

Colorado Potato Beetle

Today’s bugs.

It was a nice change from yesterday’s weather. Low 70s and calm, gradually warming.
I got to Governor Bridge around 6:45, but it wasn’t very active. I found a few nice birds early, but the activity slowed to a crawl after an hour, and it too a while to find anything at all.
Fortunately, fellow birder Mardi was around and we searched for birds and bugs together for a while. Thanks for the assist, Mardi.

We saw a small flock of Cedar Waxwings in several places.

This White Eyed Vireo teased us for a while before I could get a picture.

This Eastern Towhee perched in the same branch, singing for quite a while.

We saw several Blue Grosbeaks, but couldn’t get very close.

Today’s bugs.

I awoke to clouds and gloom, but the weatherman predicted clearing, so I left early for Governor Bridge.
The clearing part never happened, so I stuck with bugs all morning.
It was much better in the afternoon, so I went to Quiet Waters and found a few more.

Today’s bugs.

I decided to change my luck and gave Wooton a try this morning. It got hot and humid quickly.
I was a little surprised at the lack of bird activity, but I found a few nice ones.
I spent about two hours looking for bugs, but there wasn’t much variety.

This Common Yellowthroat has found a nice caterpillar.

This Northern Cardinal was eating rapidly.

This Red Winged Blackbird is a female.

Prothonotary Warblers are relatively plentiful at Wooton.

Orchard Orioles nest at Wooton, but I don’t see them often.

Today’s bugs.

I had to run some errands this morning, so I only gout out briefly. I managed to find a few bugs before the rain started.

Today’s bugs.

I got to Governor Bridge just after dawn again and the action started almost immediately. Lots of singing birds and ducks flying overhead.
After a couple of hours of good birds, I went bug hunting and tried to improve my photography skills.

This female Indigo Bunting was very active.

THis Eastern Towhee greeted me as I entered the park.

I heard this White Eyed Vireo singing, but it took a while to find him.

This is the second time I’ve seen a Chipping Sparrow in this tree.

Two Common Yellowthroats were foraging together.

Blue Grosbeaks are becoming easier to find.

THe Scarlet Tanager is aptly named.

Today’s bugs.

Today’s flowers.

Perfect weather again. I got to the park just after sunrise, and the action was fairly good. A number of birds were feeding and singing, and I had several good shots by 8:30.
I started bug hunting by 9:00, and that went well also.

I don’t recall getting a Downy Woodpecker and a Carolina Chickadee in the same shot before.

Blue Gray Gnatcatchers are becoming more numerous.

These Orchard Orioles were in the big field, but I usually see them at the lake.

It was tough to get a good look at this Brown Thrasher.

You can hear the song of the Indigo Bunting every summer morning.

The Blue Grosbeak can be mistaken for the Indigo Bunting at a distance.

Yellow Breasted Chats sing all morning, but they can be hard to find.

Today’s bugs.

And a couple more flowers.