Double Crested Cormorant at Possum Point

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Audubon

I was a bit late to Possum Point this morning, and missed the best sunrise colors. I took a few photos anyway and checked out the birds. Lots of Ospreys, in 5 active nests, and several flocks of Cormorants were the highlights.

Beach Road had a few Scaup and Canvasbacks, as well as Grebes.

I finished up at Jonas Green Park, which didn’t have much to offer.

Another Possum Point sunrise.

This shot was taken with the 500mm lens.

It’s not hard to find a Song Sparrow at Jonas Green.

These Horned Grebes were at Jonas Green Park.

The skies around Possum Point are filled with Ospreys at this time of year.

A small flock of Lesser Scaup is till hanging out at Beach Road.

These Canada Geese were in the small pond across from Jonas Green.

Mallards are found in all the waters around the bay.

Possum Point has been a favorite spot for Double Crested Cormorants as long as I’ve been going there.

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker at Truxtun Park

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Audubon

I had to work this morning, and there was rain until noon, so I only got out for a short while.

There wasn’t much to see at the park, but a sapsucker showed himself briefly and the shadows on the bridge looked promising.

The mid afternoon sun looked cool on the bridge.

I haven’t seen many Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers this year.

Heron Rookery in Arnold, MD

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Audubon

A friend (Thanks, Doug), invited Graeme and I to view a Heron Rookery on his property this morning, and it was quite a trip. The nest are 50-60 feet in the air, and we saw at least 7 occupied nests. With any luck we’ll be able to check on their progress over the next couple of months.

There were plenty of other birds about also, including Pileated Woodpeckers, Kingfishers and ducks. A very good day.

Great Blue Herons nest high off the ground.

It appeared that a Raccoon had been walking on the beach.

This Eastern Phoebe is my first of the season.

A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers seem to be preparing to nest in the area.

Two Ospreys were fishing nearby.

We saw several Belted Kingfishers.

The Great Blue Herons were very active, preening, calling and mating all morning.

Belted Kingfisher at Quiet Waters

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Audubon

`I started out at Beach Road this morning, but the strong wind and cold temps made me cut it short. There wasn’t much to see, in any case.

Quiet Waters was much better, with ducks, Ospreys, Eagles and my best look at a Kingfisher in flight to date.

This Double Crested Cormorant was the only image I got at Beach Road.

I often wonder if this is the same Great Blue Heron each time I see him in the cove.

Ospreys are doing well at Quiet Waters.

This Mallard flew in close, and the light was just right.

The Osprey is defending his nest from this juvenile Bald Eagle.

A small flock of Red Breasted Mergansers was feeding near the cove.

I spent a lot of time tracking these Belted Kingfishers this morning, and it paid off.

Osprey at Truxtun Park

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Audubon

It was an ugly looking morning, and I had a 9:30 appointment, so I made a quick trip to Quiet Waters to see if I could get lucky. I found a couple of birds, then went to work, followed by a nap.

This afternoon, I stopped at Truxtun Park without finding much, but a lone Osprey made it worthwhile.

This Horned Grebe was diving for breakfast at Quiet Waters.

These Wood Ducks were a good distance away, and the new camera made them usable.

This Osprey is nesting at the ball field at Truxtun Park, where there’s been a nest for many years.

Greater Scaup at Quiet Waters Park

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Audubon

It’s still awfully cold for Spring. It was still in the thirties this morning when I went to Possum Point. I got a couple of sunrise shots, but there weren’t many ducks, so I headed to Beach Road.

Al;though there were ducks, they stayed pretty for from shore, and didn’t give me much of a chance.

Quiet Waters was also slow, with fewer birds than in recent days.

I had calm water and better colors this morning.

This Horned Grebe is in full breeding plumage.

The flock of Canvasbacks seems to move around at random.

These Mallards were feeding at Quiet Waters.

This Osprey is nesting at Quiet Waters,

These Canvasbacks will be heading West soon.

I startled these Greater Scaup at Quiet Waters.

Common Goldeneye at Beach Road

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Audubon

I started at Sandy Point this morning, where the sunrise was disappointing, and no interesting birds were to be seen.

I went on to Beach Road, which was much better, with several species of ducks and a very nice River Otter.

Gray and cloudy doesn’t give you much of a sunrise.

I saw at least a dozen Horned Grebes this morning.

These Canvasbacks won’t be here much longer.

This River Otter was very curious about me.

This Common Goldeneye seems to be migrating late.

Black Duck at Quiet Waters

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Audubon

I went back to Possum Point this morning for more sunrise images which was OK, but the ducks were missing.Even the Ospreys were shy.

Beach drive was much better, with plenty of ducks and Grebes. I expect this to be a good spot in the Spring.

Quiet Waters was the best spot this morning, with Eagles and Ospreys.

Darker and windier this morning (and cold).

Horned Grebes dive to escape predators, and I don’t often see them fly.

These Canvasbacks and Scaup were at Beach Road.

Spring Robin at Quiet Waters.

This Mallard was posing at the edge of the cove.

I spooked this Mallard hen.

A small flock of Double Crested Cormorants flew over Quiet Waters.

I saw a lot of Horned Grebes this morning.

This Osprey was fishing very successfully this morning.

The Osprey was chasing the Bald Eagle away from its nest.

There are several Bald Eagles at Quiet Waters but I don’t often get good shots.

I was lucky to catch this Black Duck, who flew off rapidly.

Hooded Merganser at Quiet Waters Park

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Audubon

Graeme and I met early again and went to Possum Point to try for more sunrise images. The Ospreys were cooperative, and the Red Breasted Mergansers are still hanging around. A few Scaup and Buffleheads are still feeding there as well.

Quiet Waters was productive also, with some very cooperative birds.

Thomas Point was a bust, and I fear it’s done for the season.

This early morning fisherman spooked most of the birds out of the bay

There was lots of color in the sky this morning.

The Osprey pair is very busy repairing their nest and fishing.

We had much better light for the Red Breasted Mergansers this morning.

I found this American Coot at Truxtun a couple of days go.

This sleepy pair of Mallards was also at Truxtun.

This Chickadee is preparing a nest at Thomas Point.

We saw Horned Grebes at Beach Drive and Quiet Waters,

These Turkey Vultures were arguing over a dead fish at Quiet Waters.

My favorite Quiet Waters Great Blue Heron.

This Red Shouldered Hawk was near the entrance to Quiet Waters, and we stopped the car in the middle of the road to get close ups.

We spooked this Double Crested Cormorant at Beach Drive.

I didn’t realize this was a Gadwall drake until I saw it on the screen.

We got good looks at this pair of Hooded Mergansers at Quiet Waters.

Red Breasted Mergansers at Possum Point

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Audubon

I met Graeme early and we went to Possum Point to shoot some sunrises. The fog spoiled our plans, but we found some Ospreys and Mergansers, as well as a few other birds.

Graeme then showed me a place on Beach Road which looks promising for the future.

Quiet Waters treated us well, with Wood Ducks and Great Blue Herons as well as a nice hike through the woods.