Wood Duck at Lake Artemesia

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Hugh

I made the (45 minute) trek to Lake Artemesia this morning, in hopes of getting some variety, and I succeeded, but the pickings were slim. It was disappointing, as I’ve had good luck there in the past.

The weather wasn’t much good, either, and a couple of short rain showers combined with the cloudy skies had me leaving after a couple of hours.

Lake Artemesia

Beavers are thriving at Lake Artemesia.

This Canada Goose gosling is almost full grown.

There’s usually a flock of Cedar Waxwings in residence.

Three Double Crested Cormorants were fishing in the lake.

Barn Swallows nest at Lake Artemesia.

Tree Swallows also nest at the lake.

When I first saw this Wood Duck, she was foraging in the grass with a flock of Canada Geese.

I didn’t have time to look for bugs, and this Moth was a lucky find.

Green Heron at Wooton’s Landing

Posted on June 14, 2015 by Hugh

I had another go at Wooton and Sands Road this morning. Wooton wasn’t as active at it’s been in the past, but it was a beautiful morning.

Sands Road had more birds, and the insects are becoming more active. Unfortunately, the heat and humidity are becoming oppressive earlier, making for shorter trips.

A view of the main pond at Wooton’s Landing.

Goldfinches feed on seeds.

Indigo Buntings are doing well in every spot I visit.

Field Sparrows are abundant at Sands Road.

Eastern Kingbirds were active in both places.

Sands Road seems to be a perfect habitat for Common Yellowthroats.

I saw this Green Heron in three different trees.

Today’s bugs.

Yellow Breasted Chat At Greenbury Point

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Hugh

I had another try at Possum Point sunrise this morning, with mixed results, then moved on to Greenbury Point and Jonas Green Park.

I’m not finding much variety at Greenbury, so Jonas Green was a nice change, with a few different birds and a change of scenery.

Sunrise at Wooton’s Landing, from a few days ago.

Bobwhite Trail, at Greenbury Point.

This is the first Caspian Tern I’ve seen at Jonas Green.

This Great Blue Heron was flying East on the Severn River.

This Cardinal was foraging at Jonas Green Park.

You’ll find Red Winged Blackbirds in every marsh around here.

I haven’t seen many Catbirds at Jonas Green Park.

Chipping Sparrows are usually easy to find at Greenbury Point.

This Song Sparrow was successfully feeding in the rip rap at Jonas Green.

Bluebirds have been scarce this year.

This Yellow Breasted Chat is engaged in a courting/territorial display.

Sunrise at Possum Point.

Indigo Bunting at Greenbury Point

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Hugh

I was at Possum Point at dawn again, messing with the Go Pro and the time lapse settings on the Nikon. Still nothing worth posting, but I think I have the fundamentals mastered.

Not much in the way of birds today. I walked a different route today in hopes of changing my luck, but the heat may be keeping the birds at home. I quit at around 9:00 when it got too hot.

This Cardinal was singing at Possum Point.

I’ve decided this Osprey has only one chick.

This Mallard flew in while I was at the pond.

Indigo Buntings are breeding at Greenbury Point.

Today’s bugs.

Yellow Breasted Chat at Sands Road Park

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Hugh

I tried another time lapse sunrise this morning, and discovered I still have much to learn. The technical end is easy, but getting a good scene can be difficult. I’ll have to find a better place.

Wooton’s Landing was a little quiet, but I found a few birds. Sands Road was more active, and I was surprised to hear so many Chats. I chsd them quite a while before getting a decent image.

I’m hearing Orchard Orioles everywhere I go.

Field Sparrows are OK, but there should be more variety at Sands Road.

The reeds were full of Common Yellowthroats.

I was surprised how long this Great Blue Heron tolerated my presence.

My guess is that there were 4-6 Yellow Breasted Chats in the bushes.

This Dragonfly was all I found before it started getting hot.

Carolina Chickadee at Greenbury Point.

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Hugh

I had another go at a time lapse sunrise this morning, and I’ll post it here. It’s not much to look at, but more experimenting is in order.

I didn’t find much at Possum Point, and Greenbury Point wasn’t a lot better, but I found a few birds. It’s starting to get hot, so I had a shorter day than usual.

The sun cast a startlingly red reflection.

This Eastern Kingbird was flycatching at the point.

Yellow Breasted Chats don’t always pose this well.

I’m hoping to catch this Osprey couple feeding their chicks, but no luck so far.

Possum Point has at least 8 active Osprey nests.

This Brown Thrasher was singing loudly.

This Chickadee seemed to ignore me.

Osprey Chicks at Possum Point

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Hugh

I was undecided this morning, as rain seemed imminent, but I really wanted to try the Go Pro, so I headed to Possum Point to try to catch the sunrise in time lapse. The experiment was a success, but it wan’t a very interesting sunrise.

There are at least 8 active Osprey nests at the point, and I got some decnt pics of the nearest one.

It was raining by then, but I stopped for a while at the nursery center, where I found a few birds and bugs.

Birds were scarce today, but this Indigo Bunting landed quite near me.

This pair of Ospreys seem to have two chicks.

Today’s bugs.

Baltimore Oriole at Wooton’s Landing

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Hugh

I flipped a coin this morning, and it came up Wooton’s.

I arrived just after dawn, and met my friendly beaver, then chased a Baltimore Oriole for a while. lt was actually quite birdy this morning, but good photo opps were scarce.

I made a short stop at Sands Road afterward, and found a few birds and bugs to make for a decent morning.

This Eastern Bluebird seemed to be watching the sun rise.

I found several Common Yellowthroats at Sands Road.

This young Orchard Oriole was also singing loudly and at length.

I’m guessing this is a young Blue Grosbeak coming into his adult colors.

I spooked this Great Blue Heron and was lucky to get this shot.

This Baltimore Oriole was singing for a good hour from various perches, but I couldn’t get a better look.

Today’s bugs.

If you arrive early, you’ll almost always see a beaver.

Great Crested Flycatcher at Greenbury Point

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Hugh

I started at Possum Point this morning, and took a few sunrise pics. Nothing really spectacular.

I moved on to the Nature Center in hopes of finding some birds, and I found a few willing to pose well. I also found a few insects, and I’m hoping for some good butterflies later this month.

My Go Pro camera arrived today, and I’ll be posting some videos when I get it figured out.

Sunrise at Possum Point.

I saw several Indigo Buntings.

Tree Swallows in flight are tough to get, but this one was flying in a regular pattern, so I got a couple of decent images.

When all else fails, you can get a Cardinal.

Greenbury Point is a reliable spot for Goldfinches.

Cornell: “A large, assertive flycatcher with rich reddish-brown accents and a lemon-yellow belly, the Great Crested Flycatcher is a common bird of Eastern woodlands. Its habit of hunting high in the canopy means it’s not particularly conspicuous—until you learn its very distinctive call, an emphatic rising whistle. These flycatchers swoop after flying insects and may crash into foliage in pursuit of leaf-crawling prey. They are the only Eastern flycatchers that nest in cavities, and this means they sometimes make use of nest boxes.”