I went back to Wooton this morning, and changed my routine to see if it would change my luck.
I switched to the big zoom lens and walked the upper trail first, to see what birds might be around, and did pretty well. There’s usually a Green Heron or two at Wooton, but they don’t often pose so well. A few others cooperated also.
A shortened bug hunt was reasonably successful also.

This looks like a female Common Yellowthroat.

You can’t go wrong with a Northern Cardinal in an evergreen.

Eastern Towhees don’t spook easily when they’re singing.

This Carolina Chickadee seemed to want his picture taken.

There are many White Eyed Vireos at Wooton, but they can be hard to photograph.

I spooked this Yellow Billed Cuckoo when he first saw me, but he landed in a nearby tree.

I was able to watch this Green Heron for several minutes.

Dogwood Spittlebug

Today’s bugs.

Governor Bridge is closed all week, so I headed to Sands Road and Wooton this morning. I spent a lot of time looking for birds, with no luck, but the bug hunting was OK.
Wooton is turning out to be a good place for bugs also.

Found in the field.

I’m not sure what this is yet.

I couldn’t pass up this leaf with the big water drop.

Today’s bugs.

It was difficult to get a good look at this hungry spider.

“What the Hell is an Isopod”, you say.
Wikipedia:”Isopoda is an order of peracarid crustaceans. Isopods live in the sea, in fresh water or on land and include familiar animals such as the sea slater and woodlouse. Most are small, grey to white coloured animals with rigid, segmented, exoskeletons, two pairs of antennae, seven pairs of jointed limbs on the thorax, and five pairs of branching appendages on the abdomen that are used in respiration.”
First time I’ve ever seen one, and I’ve been around the water many times.
After looking around Jonas Green for a couple of hours, I went to Greenbury Point, which was a bit slow and quite hot. It does have possibilities for more insects, though.

Today’s flowers.

Top and bottom of a Wooly Bear Caterpillar.

Some perspective on this bug’s size.

Today’s bugs.

Our Isopod friend.

This was a real Maryland July day;hot, humid and sunny. I didn’t want to go too far, so I tried Governor Bridge, which was actually pretty slow.
I saw very little new, but the caterpillar made up for it.

“NATURE is what we see,
The Hill, the Afternoon—
Squirrel, Eclipse, the Bumble-bee,
Nay—Nature is Heaven.

Nature is what we hear,
The Bobolink, the Sea—
Thunder, the Cricket—
Nay,—Nature is Harmony.

Nature is what we know
But have no art to say,
So impotent our wisdom is
To Her simplicity.”

Emily Dickinson

Today’s bugs.

This is the Unicorn Caterpillar.
You can see the moth here:
http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=8007

Perfect weather again. I got too Wooton around dawn, and started walking the lower trail. There was enough activity to keep interested, and after two or so hours I switched to bugs.
A few birds were kind enough to pose, and the insect population continued to cooperate.

I don’t see many frogs, so it was nice to get two in one day.

This rabbit was the first shot I took this morning.

Today’s bugs,

Summer photography is sometimes gruelingly uncomfortable, but today was ideal. Temps in the 70s, low humidity and clear skies.
I stared at Sands Road Park, where I found some nice bugs and a few birds (Close enough for my 300mm lens), then I went to Wooton where the cooperation continued.

“Caterpillar
Brown and furry
Caterpillar in a hurry,
Take your walk
To the shady leaf, or stalk,
Or what not,
Which may be the chosen spot.
No toad spy you,
Hovering bird of prey pass by you;
Spin and die,
To live again a butterfly.”

I have no idea what these are, but they’re nice to look at.

I’ll be spending more time trying to get flight shots of the Ruby Throated Hummingbird.

I was lucky to have this Northern Parula foraging quite close overhead.

This female Orchard Oriole was hanging out near the hummingbird.

Today’s bugs.

In my search for new places, I tried Tawes Garden this morning, but it was dark and cloudy, so only the flowers cooperated.
Truxtun Park remains my best overall source for bugs.

“As children bid the guest good-night,
And then reluctant turn,
My flowers raise their pretty lips,
Then put their nightgowns on.
As children caper when they wake,
Merry that it is morn,
My flowers from a hundred cribs
Will peep, and prance again.”
Emily Dickinson

Today’s bugs.

I had planned a trip to Edgewater this morning, but a truck repair intervened, and I went to Truxtun Park and Quiet Waters instead. I must admit, these two spots have been as good as any, and better than some.

I have to find some flower names.

Today’s bugs.

Skinks like to hang out near this pile of concrete blocks.

It was over 70 degrees when I left before dawn this morning, and the humidity was rapidly climbing.
It didn’t take long before I realized it was going to be short day. I was sweating by 6:30. and I quit about 9:00. It was just as well, as I had errands to run and the bug hunting was very slow.

Today’s bugs.