Monthly Archives: May 2015

Blue Grosbeak at Terrapin Nature Park

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Where are the warblers? This should be near prime time, and they just aren’t  here in numbers.

I went back to Terrapin again in hopes of finding something new, and I did, but no warblers to speak of. Maybe next week.

A few new birds and a fox made up for it, so it was a decent day anyway.

Fox 21

Fox 20

This fox stayed in view for several minutes

Turtle 39

This turtle was crossing the path, so I gave him a helping hand.

Indigo Bunting 100

I was lucky to get any look at this Indigo Bunting.

Red Winged Blackbird 103

I tried a flight shot of this Red Winged Blackbird just for the Hell of it.

Green Heron 104

I don’t often get a clear look at a Green Heron.

Caspian Tern 117 Caspian Tern 116

Caspian Tern 115

Caspian Terns continue to fish in the marsh ponds.

Snowy Egret 115 Snowy Egret 114

 

Snowy Egret 113

This Snowy Egret took off when he saw me.

Wood Duck 248

Wood Duck 247

Wood Ducks are still hanging out in the early morning.

Least Sandpiper 103

Terrapin seems popular with Least Sandpipers this year.

Blue Grosbeak 202

Blue Grosbeak 201

I’ve see very few Blue Grosbeaks at Terrapin.

Least Sandpiper at Terrapin Nature Park

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Back to Terrapin again.  One of these days I’ll see some warblers there, but not today. I also tried to get a good shot of the large snapping turtle, but he stays too far out in the marsh.

The Wood Ducks are still cooperating, and the sandpipers were a nice surprise.

Marsh Pond 3

This part of the marsh is near the beach.

Tree Swallow 109

 

Tree Swallow 108

This dead tree is a favorite perch for Tree Swallows and other birds.

Snowy Egret 111 Snowy Egret 110 Snowy Egret 109 Snowy Egret 108

 

Snowy Egret 112

This Snowy Egret was fishing in the marsh near the beach.

Great Crested Flycatcher 200

Great Crested Flycatcher 201

I heard this Great Crested Flycatcher in the tree tops, and it took a while to find him.

Red Winged Blackbird 102

Red Winged Blackbirds are probably the most common bird at Terrapin.

Least Sandpiper 101 Least Sandpiper 100

 

Least Sandpiper 102

I don’t recall seeing Least Sandpipers at Terrapin before today.

 

Snowy Egret at Terrapin Nature Park

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I went to Terrapin this morning in hopes of finding some warblers, but they just weren’t there.

Fortunately, the marsh birds were active, as well as a herd of snapping turtles who seemed to be eating every fish in the pond.

Marsh Pond 2

Marsh Pond 1

One of the big ponds at Terrapin.

Wood Duck 239 Wood Duck 238

Wood Duck 236 Wood Duck 243 Wood Duck 242 Wood Duck 241 Wood Duck 240

Wood Duck 237

6-8 Wood Ducks were cruising in the pond.

Green Heron 103

Once again I looked up just in time to catch this Green Heron.

Osprey 327

Three Ospreys were fishing in the pond.

 

 

Cardinal 190

This Cardinal posed beautifully.

Laughing Gull 101

A few Laughing Gulls flew over the pond.

Pileated Woodpecker 106

Pileated Woodpecker 105

I heard this Pileated Woodpecker in the distance, and as I looked for him, he flew toward me.

Snowy Egret 107 Snowy Egret 106 Snowy Egret 105 Snowy Egret 104 Snowy Egret 103 Snowy Egret 102 Snowy Egret 101

Snowy Egret 100

I haven’t seen a Snowy Egret since last year.

Snapping Turtle 7

This Snapping Turtle and a few of his friends, were working hard to decimate a large school of fish.

Wood Thrush at Governor Bridge Natural Area

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The weatherman called for rain this morning, but it didn’t materialize, so I got a late start.

I found a couple of nice birds right away at Governor bridge, but not much happened after that, so I went off to do chores after a couple of hours.

Tufted Titmouse 201

A pair of Tufted Titmice was foraging near the lake

Cardinal 189

I haven’t posted many female Cardinals recently.

Palm Warbler 108

This Palm Warbler has found a nice snack.

Wood Thrush 100

 

Palm Warbler at Wooton’s Landing

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I had another go at Wooton this morning, and it wasn’t bad.  It was much warmer than yesterday, but not as birdy.

My beaver friend showed up, as well as a couple of turtles and warblers.

 

Wooton Sunrise 4

Sunrise at Wooton.

Red Eyed Vireo 200

This my first Red Eyed Vireo photo of the season.

Red Winged Blackbird 101

There are dozens of Red Winged Blackbirds at Wooton.

Eastern Towhee 102

This Eastern Towhee was singing for a mate.

Catbird 202

Catbirds are becoming common.

Cardinal 188

This Cardinal was too pretty to pass up.

Prothonotary Warbler 122 Prothonotary Warbler 121

Prothonotary Warbler 119

Prothonotary Warbler 120

This Prothonotary Warbler was seeking nesting materials right at my feet.

 

Chickadee 215

Chickadees seem to be very active in the morning.

Palm Warbler 106

I haven’t seen a Palm Warbler for a while.

Tortoise 3

I found this tortoise crossing the path as I was leaving.

Spider 231

Tortoise 3

Spider 230

This jumping spider was on a bush near my home.

Beaver 20

A pair of Beavers have a den right in the marsh.

Tortoise 3

I found this tortoise crossing the path as I was leaving.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird at Wooton’s Landing

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Migration is clearly under way, so I went back to Wooton to see what new birds might appear. There was a fly over Great Egret, and a Double Crested Cormorant, but the hummingbird was  a nice treat.

It was a little slower than yesterday, and there wasn’t much at Sands Road, either, but I got some good shots any way.

Mourning Dove 101

I got very close to this Mourning Dove before he flew off.

Cardinal 187

Cardinals often sing from the top of the plant they perch in.

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 21

Blue Gray Gnatcatchers are abundant at this time of year.

Double Crested Cormorant 108

This fly over Double Crested Cormorant was a big surprise.

White Eyed Vireo 108

There’s a LOT of White Eyed Vireos at Wooton.

Common Yellowthroat 108

Common Yellowthroat 107

Common Yellowthroat 106

I found this Common Yellowthroat at Sands Road.

Swamp Sparrow 112

Swamp Sparrows are very attractive in breeding plumage.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird 305

Ruby Throated Hummingbird 303 Ruby Throated Hummingbird 302 Ruby Throated Hummingbird 301

Ruby Throated Hummingbird 300

 

 

Ruby Throated Hummingbird 301

These Ruby Throated Hummingbirds were all shot at 1/8000 of a second.

Blue Grosbeak at Sands Road Park

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I met Graeme early at Wooton’s Landing, and we tried get more shots of the beaver, but it was not to be. We heard him, but never got a  look at him.

The birds were far more cooperative, as well as a few butterflies, a turtle and a frog.

Wooton Sunrise 3

Wooton Sunrise 2

It was seriously foggy this morning.

 

Butterfly 18

I haven’t found the name of this Butterfly.

Downy Woodpecker 027

Downy Woodpecker 028

I caught this Downy Woodpecker just as he f lew.

Catbird 201

Catbirds will be with us until Fall.

Common Yellowthroat 105

The Common Yellowthroat is common indeed at Wooton.

Eastern Kingbird 105

Eastern Kingbird 104

A pair of Eastern Kingbirds entertained us for several minutes.

Swamp Sparrow 111

Swamp Sparrow are easy to find on the lower trail.

 

 

Tree Swallow 107

Tree Swallow 106

This Tree Swallow was gathering grass for his nest.

Orchard Oriole 100

Orchard Oriole 101

This is my first Orchard Oriole of the season.

 

 

Goldfinch 202

A flock of Goldfinch hangs out at Wooton all Summer.

Prothonotary Warbler 118

Prothonotary Warbler 116

Prothonotary Warbler 117

Prothonotary Warblers are doing well at Wooton.

White Eyed Vireo 107

White Eyed Vireo 106

Learn the call of the White Eyed Vireo and you’ll hear it everywhere.

Chickadee 213 Chickadee 212 Chickadee 209

Chickadee 209

Chickadee 210

This Chickadee flew off just as I snapped the shutter.

Blue Grosbeak 200

My first Blue Grosbeak of the season.

 

Turtle 38

A very attractive turtle.

Frog 8

This frog was very well camouflaged.

Butterfly 18

I haven’t found the name of this Butterfly.