After yesterday’s disappointment I decided to go back to Artemesia for a sure thing. It turned out well. The Baltimore Oriole has been a nemesis bird for me-I’ve got photos, but no really good ones.
I met Graeme early, and we saw good birds right away, and most of the morning. Afterward, he showed me nearby Buddy Attick Park, which I’ll visit again soon.
![Lake Artemesia 10 Lake Artemesia 10](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Lake-Artemesia-10.jpg?resize=584%2C390&ssl=1)
A view of Lake Artemesia.
![Yellow Billed Cuckoo 2016-1 Yellow Billed Cuckoo 2016-1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Yellow-Billed-Cuckoo-2016-1.jpg?resize=584%2C492&ssl=1)
This is the first Yellow Billed Cuckoo I’ve seen at Artemesia.
![Mockingbird 2016-5 Mockingbird 2016-5](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mockingbird-2016-5.jpg?resize=584%2C433&ssl=1)
I often pass up Mockingbirds, but I liked this pose.
![Common Loon 2016-101 Common Loon 2016-101](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Common-Loon-2016-101.jpg?resize=584%2C416&ssl=1)
This Common Loon was at Buddy Attick.
![Red Winged Blackbird 2016-26 Red Winged Blackbird 2016-26](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Red-Winged-Blackbird-2016-26.jpg?resize=584%2C476&ssl=1)
![Red Winged Blackbird 2016-27 Red Winged Blackbird 2016-27](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Red-Winged-Blackbird-2016-27.jpg?resize=584%2C474&ssl=1)
We saw this Red Winged Blackbird as we were leaving.
![Barn Swallow 2016-7 Barn Swallow 2016-7](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Barn-Swallow-2016-7.jpg?resize=584%2C501&ssl=1)
![Barn Swallow 2016-6 Barn Swallow 2016-6](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Barn-Swallow-2016-6.jpg?resize=584%2C485&ssl=1)
Some very cooperative Barn Swallows.
![Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 2016-5 Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 2016-5](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Blue-Gray-Gnatcatcher-2016-5.jpg?resize=584%2C473&ssl=1)
![Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 2016-6 Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 2016-6](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Blue-Gray-Gnatcatcher-2016-6.jpg?resize=584%2C532&ssl=1)
I’ve seen fewer Blue Gray Gnatcatchers this year than previously.
![Wood Duck 2016-54 Wood Duck 2016-54](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Wood-Duck-2016-54.jpg?resize=584%2C459&ssl=1)
![Wood Duck 2016-55 Wood Duck 2016-55](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Wood-Duck-2016-55.jpg?resize=584%2C485&ssl=1)
Wood Ducks are thriving at Artemesia.
![Mallard 2016-50 Mallard 2016-50](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mallard-2016-50.jpg?resize=584%2C535&ssl=1)
![Mallard 2016-52 Mallard 2016-52](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mallard-2016-52.jpg?resize=584%2C505&ssl=1)
This Mallard will be leaving her ducklings soon.
![Purple Martin 2016-40 Purple Martin 2016-40](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Purple-Martin-2016-40.jpg?resize=584%2C461&ssl=1)
![Purple Martin 2016-41 Purple Martin 2016-41](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Purple-Martin-2016-41.jpg?resize=584%2C513&ssl=1)
More Purple Martin flight shots.
![Green Heron 2016-8 Green Heron 2016-8](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Green-Heron-2016-8.jpg?resize=584%2C428&ssl=1)
Several Green Herons flew over the lake.
![Orchard Oriole 2016-5 Orchard Oriole 2016-5](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Orchard-Oriole-2016-5.jpg?resize=584%2C487&ssl=1)
![Orchard Oriole 2016-7 Orchard Oriole 2016-7](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Orchard-Oriole-2016-7.jpg?resize=584%2C469&ssl=1)
This Orchard Oriole was one of the first birds we saw this morning.
![Baltimore Oriole 2016-2 Baltimore Oriole 2016-2](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Baltimore-Oriole-2016-2.jpg?resize=584%2C469&ssl=1)
![Baltimore Oriole 2016-5 Baltimore Oriole 2016-5](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Baltimore-Oriole-2016-5.jpg?resize=584%2C544&ssl=1)
![Baltimore Oriole 2016-4 Baltimore Oriole 2016-4](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Baltimore-Oriole-2016-4.jpg?resize=584%2C536&ssl=1)
I really wanted this Baltimore Oriole, so we spent a lot of time chasing it.