Bald Eagle Nest at Thomas Point

I left my ski pants at home this morning and enjoyed the warm weather that’s been here for a couple of days.

It was another plain vanilla sunrise this morning, but I found a few birds in the marina, so it wasn’t a total waste.

There were lots of Cormorants offshore at Possum Point, but too far for decent images.

Quiet Waters was unusually quiet, but there was a little action at Thomas Point, including a pair of nesting Bald Eagles.

Sandy Point 197

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Mallard 2016-14

This Mallard practically flew into my face.

Double Crested Cormorant 2016-5

Double Crested Cormorant 2016-6

Both Sandy Point and Possum Point had many Double Crested Cormorants.

Bald Eagle 2016-13

Bald Eagle 2016-14

Both Eagles were tending to this nest.

Northern Pintail at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

After another slightly boring sunrise, I headed to the Eastern Shore, where the reports say many ducks have gathered.

Terrapin was pretty boring except for a very early Catbird, and Kent Narrows continues to be surprisingly boring.

CBEC was another story, with thousands of ducks and Swans, although most were too distant for good photos. Still, a very good sign.

Sandy Point 195

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Tundra Swan 2016-16

These Tundra Swans flew in to join the large flock at CBEC.

Red Winged Blackbird 2016-2

This Red Winged Blackbird was singing in the marsh grass at Terrapin.

Mallard 2016-13

Mallard 2016-11

Mallard 2016-12

Terrapin is always good for a few Mallards.

Catbird 2016-1

This Gray Catbird is about a month early.

Northern Pintail 2016-5

Northern Pintail 2016-4

Northern Pintails have been at CBEC for a month or more.

 

Canvasback at Thomas Point

I started with Sandy Point, as usual. Not a great sunrise, but good enough. I went by the marina, which didn’t have much to offer, then on to Possum Point.

There were some distant mergansers, but nor much else. I was hoping to find some early Ospreys, but not yet.

Quiet Waters had nothing at all to offer, which was a surprise.

Thomas Point had a few distant ducks, but too far out for images, so I stopped at my friend’s house on Thomas Point Road and came up with a few decent images. I expect things will pick up soon.

Sandy Point 194

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Greater Scaup 2016-5

I found this Greater Scaup at Sandy Point before the sun rose.

Tundra Swan 2016-15

Tundra Swan s will be with us for two weeks or so.

Canada Goose 2016-2

Two Canada Geese were hanging around the dock at my friend’s house.

Double Crested Cormorant 2016-4

I found this Double Crested Cormorant at Possum Point.

Canvasback 2016-4

 

 

 

Canvasback 2016-5

A large flock of Canvasbacks flew over the point.

Greater Scaup at Sandy Point.

I had planned to go to Blackwater NWR this morning, but the high winds kept me close to home.

After catching the sunrise, I looked over the marina at Sandy Point and found a few ducks in close.

I then tried Quiet Waters in hopes of seeing the Great Honed Owl I spotted a few days ago, but no luck. A few Mallards and some distant Scaup were the sum of activity there.

Sandy Point 193

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Mallard 2016-8

Mallard 2016-9

A few Mallards were flying about at Quiet Waters.

Ruddy Duck 2016-2

This Ruddy Duck is also a marina resident.

Great Blue Heron 2016-4

This Great Blue Heron was fishing at Quiet Waters.

Greater Scaup 2016-4

This Greater Scaup was in the marina with a few friends.

 

Red Tailed Hawk at Quiet Waters.

Very mild weather this morning made life a little easier and probably added some color to the sunrise. Sandy Point still doesn’t have any significant number of ducks.

Possum Point had a lot of distant Ruddy Ducks, but not much else.

Quiet Waters was the same, but a Red Tailed Hawk was nearby.

Thomas Point wasn’t as good as yesterday, but an eagle appeared just as I arrived, and I got a back lit closeup.

 

This Bald Eagle flew right over my head.

This Bald Eagle flew right over my head.

I spooled this Red Tailed Hawk as I approached.

I spooled this Red Tailed Hawk as I approached.

Sandy Point 189

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Gadwall at Thomas Point.

The temps were a bit milder this morning, which I’m coming to appreciate with age. I was slow leaving the house this morning, so I may have missed the best part of the sunrise. Got to get motivated earlier in the future.

There were a few Scaup at Sandy Point, but not much else. Possum Point didn’t have any interesting waterfowl, but a couple of Woodpeckers cooperated. Jonas Green continues to be a bird desert.

Thomas Point was somewhat better, but the ducks continue to be too far out for good images.

I stopped at a friend’s house on Thomas Point Road and found some of the missing ducks.

Sandy Point 187

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

American Wigeon 2016-3

These American Wigeons were just a little too far away in poor light.

Canvasback 2016-3

A large flock of Canvasback s flew over Thomas Point.

Herring Gull 2016-1

This Herring Gull was watching the Gadwalls.

Red Bellied Woodpecker 2016-1

This Red Bellied Woodpecker was also at Possum Point.

Northern Flicker 2016-2

Several Northern Flickers were feeding at Possum Point.

Greater Scaup 2016-3

I found this Greater Scaup at Sandy Point.

Gadwall 2016-2

Gadwall 2016-3

Three Gadwalls were dabbling near the shore at Thomas Point.

 

 

Buffleheads at Thomas Point.

The cold has kept me in for a few days, and it was nice to awake to a reasonable temperature. Sandy Point was calm, with just enough clouds to hide the Sun, so it wasn’t much of a sunrise.

Possum Point was hosting hundreds of ducks, for a change, mostly Ruddy and Buffleheads.

Jonas Green Park was barren, but Thomas Point had some interesting ducks, including Gadwalls and Common Goldeneyes. Light and distance conspired against and good photos of these birds, but another day will come.

Sandy Point 185

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Gadwall 2016-1

A distant Gadwall.

American Crow 2016-1

This American Crow was very noisy.

Great Blue Heron 2016-3

This Great Blue Heron was fishing at Sandy Point.

Ruddy Duck 2016-1

There were hundreds of Ruddy Ducks at Possum Point.

Bufflehead 2016-7

Bufflehead 2016-8

Bufflehead 2016-9

These Buffleheads were just close enough for pictures.

 

 

 

 

Song Sparrow at Jonas Green Park.

It was cold again this morning, but there was very little breeze, so it was tolerable. The sunrise was good enough, but I was a little late once again, and may have missed the best part. There were a few ducks feeding near shore, but not much else.

I spent a half hour at Jonas Green Park without finding much, then moved on to Thomas Point, where I didn’t a single usable image.

I stopped at a friend;’s house along Thomas Point Road, and got a good look at some Tundra Swans who congregate there.

Sandy Point 184

Sandy Point 183

Sandy Point 182

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Tundra Swan 2016-11

Tundra Swan 2016-10

These Tundra Swan s are fed by the neighbors.

Song Sparrow 2016-1

You’ll always find Song Sparrows at Jonas Green.

Bufflehead at Sandy Point

It was very cold this morning, in the twenties with a slight breeze. It’s not bad once you get dressed and on the way, but it’s hard to get started.

The sunrise was adequate, and I found a couple of ducks, but there wasn’t much else at Sandy Point.

By the time I’d spent an hour at Possum Point, I was getting cold (And bored). I had an appointment anyway, so I just went a little early.

Sandy Point 181

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

White Throated Sparrow 2016-6

White Throated Sparrows and Juncos seem to be everywhere now.

Bluebird 2016-2

It’s been nice to find a few Bluebirds, which were scarce this year.

Dark Eyed Junco 2016-4

I don’t know what berries this Dark Eyed Junco has found.

Bufflehead 2016-6

Two Bufflehead hens were foraging near the shore.

Eastern Bluebird at Quiet Waters Park

It looks as though the good weather has ended for a spell. Rain and snow tomorrow, but not as bad as last time.

I tried Sandy Point again this morning, and got an average sunrise but no ducks at all. Where are they?

Possum Point didn’t have much to offer, and Quiet Waters was pretty barren as well. Looking over the last few years, I was getting good ducks well into March, so there’s hope yet.

Sandy Point 180

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Dark Eyed Junco 2016-3

I saw more Dark Eyed Juncos than usual today.

White Throated Sparrow 2016-5

White Throated Sparrows are getting to be my go-to bird.

 

Northern Flicker 2016-1

I saw several Northern Flickers, but only got the one image.

Bluebird 2016-1

A small flock of Bluebirds was feeding behind Holly Pavilion.