I tried a change up today, without much luck. Sands Road is good sparrow country, and sparrows are moving, but it wasn’t my day.
I did kick up a couple of Eastern Meadowlarks, but the images aren’t much good.
The big field at Sands Road. I walked through much of it.
‘Tis the season for Song Sparrows.
I haven’t seen many Palm Warblers at Sands Road.
The weather continues to be beautiful, very cool in the morning, quickly warming to the sixties or more. The birds aren’t as cooperative, however.
After the usual sunrise shots, I spent two hours at Terrapin with nothing special, and CBEC wasn’t much better. It may be time to look elsewhere.
Sunrise at Sandy Point.
Northern marsh pond at Terrapin.
Views from CBEC.
You’ll often find Golden Crowned Kinglets in pine trees.
I found this Common Yellowthroat in the phragmite at CBEC.
The Fall Yellow Rumped Warbler is quite dull compared to his Spring counterpart.
Ruby Crowned Kinglet showing his ruby crown.
Once gain I stated at Sandy Point, where it was seriously cold-ski pants and gloves. It did warm up quickly, though, and I was comfortable at Terrapin.
Yesterday’s bonanza was gone, but there were still enough birds to make it interesting, but no new birds. I had to work, so I left early.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge, just before dawn.
Sunrise at Sandy Point.
White Throated Sparrows are becoming more common.
Yellow Rumped Warblers are also becoming common.
Song Sparrows were in every part of the park.
I’m seeing more Swamp Sparrows this year.
I was lucky to catch this Blue Jay flying over.
A small flock of Mallards was hanging out in the marsh pond.
You can often get very close to a Ruby Crowned Kinglet.
Golden Crowned Kinglets usually hang out with the Ruby Crowns, but there are many fewer.
Terrapin was overrun with migrating sparrows today, as well as other birds. After shooting the sunrise at Sandy Point, I go to Terrapin around 7:30 and immediately found a thousand or more migrants in the field near the parking lot.
Chipping and Song Sparrows dominated, but there were plenty of others as well. Soon, I was only shooting the best, closest birds in the best light, and I still had plenty of choices. I walked to the marsh ponds and the beach, as well, but most of the action was in the big field.
It was a great day after so many bleak ones.
Sunrise at Sandy Point.
Northern Flickers often perch in this dead tree.
I’ve tried to capture a hovering Ruby Crowned Kinglet many times, and this is my best effort to date.
Ruby Crowned Kinglets are still abundant.
First Dark Eyed Junco of the season (it’s in the sparrow family).
This Mockingbird may or may not stay a while.
Song Sparrows may be our most common sparrow.
This Catbird is migrating a little late.
Yellow Rumped Warblers will soon be our only warbler until Spring.
There may have been more Field Sparrows. but this is the only one I’m sure about.
Black Vultures often pose like this to dry their wings.
There may have been a hundred or more Chipping Sparrows.
Back to Sandy Point and Terrapin again, with decent results. The sunrise was superb, and I found some nice birds at Terrapin, with help from Diana.
I haven’t seen a Hairy Woodpecker in quite a while, and got a nice warbler and some other good birds. Fall is here and the birds are finally showing up.
Sunrise at Sandy Point.
This Chestnut Sided Warbler was a nice surprise.
The Hairy Woodpecker’s beak is noticeably longer than the Downy’s.
I thought this Black Vulture looked uncommonly dignified.
Eastern Phoebes were abundant today.
This Blue Jay landed right in front of me.
This Carolina Chickadee was the last bird I saw this morning.
Birds at last! After some sunrise shots at Sandy Point, I stopped at Terrapin and the birds had finally arrived. Kinglets were everywhere, but other Winter residents are starting to show as well. Perhaps the Terrapin drought is over.
The beach at Terrapin Nature Park.
Sandy Point at 6:42 AM.
I only saw two White Throated Sparrows today, but there will be many more soon.
It’s been a while since I saw a Red Bellied Woodpecker.
This Downy Woodpecker was so close I couldn’t get all of him in the frame.
This Chipping Sparrow was hanging out with the Kinglets.
I saw many migrating Blue Jays today.
Ruby Crowned Kinglets were everywhere I looked.
I saw hundreds of Kinglets today, including several Golden Crowned Kinglets.
Another bust of a day. I met Graeme early at Wooton’s Landing. There was a bit of activity, but it quickly died down to nothing.
We headed to Sands Road after an hour or so, and was as dead as I’ve ever seen it. Very odd for this time of year.
Dawn at Wooton’s Landing.
White Throated Sparrows will soon be abundant.
Canada Geese are on the move.
We saw several Downy Woodpeckers.
Thia Monarch was the only photo I took at Sands Road.
Same routine again today;Sandy Point, then Terrapin. I’m changing things tomorrow, as Terrapin has been a real bust.
I did find a couple of migrants, but nothing exciting.
Sunrise at Sandy Point.
Several Chipping Sparrows were in the phragmite.
I thought these were geese, at first, but they’re Double Crested Cormorants.
First of Season Yellow Rumped Warbler.
I found these deer yesterday at Quiet Waters Park.
A blah day for birds, relieved by a nice hawk and a decent sunrise.
Neither Terrapin nor CBEC produced much at all this morning.
Sunrise at Sandy Point.
This Cooper’s Hawk landed in a tree near me.
Great weather today-morning in the 60s, slightly cloudy and calm, quickly warming to the 70s. I shot the sunrise at Sandy Point, then went to Terrapin, where a few sparrows showed up, but not much else. In a real switch, there was hardly anything worth seeing at CBEC, with the exception of a Sharp Shinned Hawk.
Sunrise at Sandy Point.
I found this Sharp Shined Hawk as I was leaving the park.
Cardinals were plentiful, as usual.
First of season White Throated Sparrow.
I found a lone Tufted Titmouse on the beach path.
Song Sparrow s have been scrace so far this year.
This Brown Thrasher was unusually cooperative.
This is the first Swamp Sparrow I’ve seen at Terrapin.