I’m dealing with a minor domestic crisis, so I only got out out for a short while yesterday. Today I tried some more sunrise images, but it was a dull sunrise indeed. Afterward, I went to Terrapin Nature Park, which was also very slow.

I did manage to find a few insects.

Today’s sunrise didn’t compare to that of a few days ago.

Another beautiful, singing Cardinal.

I’m not sure what this Crow is carrying.

Red Winged Blackbirds are common, but colorful.

Another beautiful, singing Cardinal.

Any shot of a Northern Rough Winged Swallow in flight is a good shot.

Today’s bugs.

Carp were spawning in the marsh pond.

I tested my theory about arriving earlier for sunrise, and it worked out OK.  The time on the first image is 5:17 AM, about 30 minutes before sunrise. Next time I’ll get there a half hour earlier to allow more time for setting up.

I made a short trip to Terrapin after that, but it wasn’t as productive as yesterday.

I ran some errands after lunch, and stopped at Truxtun Park, which was very productive.

The colors are pretty much exactly what I saw.

This Great Blue Heron flew right at me.

It’s hard to pass up a Cardinal who poses so well.

This Snowy Egret seemed to change direction very quickly in mid-flight.

American Crow in flight.

Today’s bugs.

It was a beautiful morning; clear and sunny with temps in the 70s. A perfect day to be looking for birds.

I got the park a little after dawn and went right to the marsh ponds, where I spent most of my time. I saw at least 4-5 Green Herons, which is unusual in my experience. I thought the Purple Martin was a Tree Swallow when I first saw it, and it’s  first for me at Terrapin. Egrets and an eagle filled out the morning.

A few nice bugs were easy to find, so it was a good day.

This Green Heron was being pursued by a Red Winged Blackbird, something I’ve never seen before.

Caspian Terns made a short visit to the ponds.

I assume this Snowy Egret is carrying nesting material.

MD marshes are home to many Red Winged Blackbirds.

Bald Eagles seem to be scarcer in the Summer.

I don’t see many Purple Martins.

This young White Tail Deer got quite close before he spotted me.

Today’s bugs.

I started with sunrise at Possum Point this morning, and I’m starting to think I need to be there an hour before sunrise to get the best colors. The Osprey were active, but there just aren’t as many birds as in past years.

I did a turn around the Nature Center, where I was very surprised to find the cuckoo, a bird I’ve heard there, but never seen before.

By the time I got around to the bugs, it was getting very hot, so I didn’t stay long.

This field of Black Eyed Susans is growing near the Nature Center.

This Osprey chick is growing rapidly.

Greenbury Point is the place for Yellow Breasted Chats.

This Yellow Billed Cuckoo is a first for me at Greenbury Point.

Today’s bugs

Hot, hot, hot.  Even at 5:00 in the morning I could tell it was going to be  short day. Between the very active insects and the heat, it’s just no fun out there when the Sun gets high.

There was very little going on at Wooton, and I spent more time (in the shade) looking for bugs than I did for birds.

A short stop at Sands Road was almost totally unproductive.

Scenes from Tawes Gardens, a local garden spot.

I often pass by the commonplace Mockingbird, but there wasn’t much else to see today.

This  Orchard Oriole was easy to hear, but hard to find, high in the tree.

Today’s bugs.

It was another gloomy, threatening morning, so I started with bugs until the sun peeked through the clouds. Neither the birds nor the bugs was very cooperative. I need to develop a better plan for such days.

The big lake at Governor bridge.

I saw several Indigo Buntings, but it was hard to get a decent shot.

This may be the same American Coot I saw about ten days ago.

Desmia maculalis Grape Leafroller

Today’s bugs.

I started at Sandy Point this morning, looking for some sunrise images, and got a few decent ones.

I moved on to Greenbury Point, and found a few birds, but not as many as I’d hoped.

The weather started to look threatening, so I  did a quick bug hunt and went home.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Bluebirds are harder to find than they were last year.

Yellow Breasted Chats are still abundant.

A small flock of Goldfinches was foraging behind the Nursery Center.

Today’s bugs.

I found this flower in the garden at the center.

We had rain this morning, so I didn’t get out until 9:00. I made a quick trip to Jonas Green, where I found a few birds, then stopped at Truxtun Park to look for bugs. I did better with the bugs than the birds.

I don’t recall seeing a Mushroom like this before.

Ring Billed Gulls are very common on the bay.

The Song Sparrow is the only sparrow I’ve seen at Jonas Green.

This Osprey was fishing right off the beach.

This momma Mallard was taking her chicks out for a swim.

Today’s bugs.

A sunny morning at last. I had decided to go to Terrapin last night, and I get good shots there when the sky is clear. There was some good action in the marsh ponds, where I met Diana, a fellow birder, and we walked the whole beach loop together, not seeing a whole lot, unfortunately.

Afterward, I spent some time looking for bugs, which were plentiful, but there wasn’t much new.

We found this Box Turtle crossing the path in the woods.

I see more rabbits at Terrapin than anywhere else.

This Mallard flew across the marsh pond right in front of me.

It was nice to see the Snowy Egrets have returned.

Today’s bugs.

The Summer doldrums are beginning. It was already warm and humid when I arrived at Governor Bridge, and the birds weren’t cooperating at all.

After I found the coot, I switched to bugs for a short while, then retreated from the heat and humidity.

I heard several birds, but only this American Coot braved the heat.

Today’s bugs.

I almost overlooked this little slug.