Orchard Oriole at Blackwater NWR.

I had a very good day today. The weather was perfect, with good light, and the birds cooperated very nicely.

The cast of characters at Blackwater is changing a bit, with more Terns and Snowy Egrets  and fewer large wading birds.

I got some good looks at the Terns and my Red Headed friend,as well as some Purple Martins who are getting ready to migrate soon.

Blackwater Dawn 18

Blackwater Dawn.

Eastern Kingbird 2017-18

This Eastern Kingbird was the first bird I saw this morning.

Snowy Egret 2017-55

Snowy Egret 2017-56

Snowy Egrets are just arriving at Blackwater.

Chickadee 2017-7

I c aught this Chickadee at the right moment.

Barn Swallow 2017-29

The Barn Swallow colony is still at the bridge.

Great Blue Heron 2017-75

This Great Blue Heron appeared to be chilling.

Tree Swallow 2017-68

Many Tree Swallows were feeding along Wildlife Drive.

Great Egret 2017-87

I only found 4 Great Egrets this morning.

Green Heron 2017-16

2 Green Herons were resting along the roadside.

Forster's Tern 2017-18

Many Forster’s Terns were roosting in the marsh.

Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-56

The bird on the left is a juvenile.

Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-55

Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-57

The Red Headed Woodpeckers are still very active.

Forster's Tern 2017-17 Forster's Tern 2017-16 Forster's Tern 2017-15 Forster's Tern 2017-14 Forster's Tern 2017-13 Forster's Tern 2017-12 Forster's Tern 2017-11 Forster's Tern 2017-10 Forster's Tern 2017-9 Forster's Tern 2017-8

Forster's Tern 2017-18

Many Forster’s Terns were roosting in the marsh.

Bald Eagle 2017-143 Bald Eagle 2017-142 Bald Eagle 2017-141

Bald Eagle 2017-144

There’s always several Bald Eagle to be seen at Blackwater.

Double Crested Cormorant 2017-19

Double Crested Cormorant 2017-20

These Double Crested Cormorants are at the bridge on Key Wallace Drive.

Orchard Oriole 2017-16

I haven’t seen an Orchard Oriole in awhile.

Wood Ducks at Terrapin Nature Park.

I started at Sandy Point again, but I’m still not getting the colorful sunrises I did last year.

Terrapin was much better. There were a lot of early flyovers, then a few egrets and ducks showed up to make life more interesting.

I spent some time looking for passerines, but there wasn’t much to see.

Sandy Point 488

Sandy Point at Dawn.

Wood Duck 2017-78 Wood Duck 2017-77 Wood Duck 2017-76 Wood Duck 2017-75 Wood Duck 2017-74 Wood Duck 2017-73 Wood Duck 2017-72 Wood Duck 2017-71 Wood Duck 2017-70 Wood Duck 2017-69 Wood Duck 2017-68

Wood Duck 2017-79

It’s been a while since I saw a Wood Duck with chicks at Terrapin.

Cattle Egret 2017-5

This is a Cattle Egret.

Mallard 2017-30

These are young Mallards.

Red Winged Blackbird 2017-98

This Red Winged Blackbird was standing guard.

Snowy Egret 2017-53 Snowy Egret 2017-52 Snowy Egret 2017-51 Snowy Egret 2017-50 Snowy Egret 2017-49 Snowy Egret 2017-48 Snowy Egret 2017-47

Snowy Egret 2017-54

4 Snowy Egrets were fishing in the big marsh pond.

Purple Martin 2017-14

Purple Martin 2017-15

A few Purple Martins were soaring over the water.

Osprey 2017-95

Osprey 2017-96

Several Ospreys were fishing in the bay.

Green Heron 2017-14 Green Heron 2017-11 Green Heron 2017-12

Green Heron 2017-15

2 Green Herons greeted me this morning.

Royal Tern at Sandy Point State Park.

It was raining early, so I  got to Terrapin around 7:30, and there wasn’t much to see in the marsh. A lone Bald Eagle flew over, and a Green heron called, but the only interesting photo opp was a lone cattle Egret in the big field near the parking lot. Later, it was joined by 7-8 more.

I decided to stop at Sandy Point to see what birds the storm might have brought in, and found a few Terns and Gulls, along with a small flock of Sanderlings. I usually drive right by Sandy Point on my way home, so I may have stop more often.

Crow 2017-6

This Crow is checking out an unguarded picnic basket at Sandy Point.

Cattle Egret 2017-4 Cattle Egret 2017-3 Cattle Egret 2017-2

Cattle Egret 2017-1

Most of the Cattle Egrets I see are at Terrapin.

Ring Billed Gull 2017-4

Ring Billed Gull 2017-5

I’m not sure why gulls, like this Ring Billed, seem to bathe.

Laughing Gull 2017-1

Laughing Gull 2017-2

This is an adult Laughing Gull.

Sanderling 2017-1

These Sanderling also seemed to be bathing.

Forster's Tern 2017-5 Forster's Tern 2017-4

Forster's Tern 2017-7

These seem to be Forster’s Terns.

Royal Tern 2017-2

Royal Tern 2017-3

This one is likely to be a Royal Tern.

Black Backed Seagull 2017-2

Black Backed Seagull 2017-3

A greater Black Backed Seagull, the world’s largest gull.

 

 

Snowy Egrets at Terrapin Nature Park.

I started out at Sandy Point this morning, and it was a bust. No color to speak of and no interesting birds in the lousy light.

Terrapin was much better. There were 8-10 Snowy Egrets in the marsh ponds, and they were fishing in an interesting manner. They’d fly in a small circle, dragging their feet in the water, which seemed to stir up the small fish. Occasionally they’d dip their heads into the water, and often came up with a fish.

Green Herons, Ospreys and Mallards were present as well.

I stopped at CBEC, but the water along the entrance road was too deep to enter the compound.

Fountain

This is the fountain at Tawes Garden.

Snowy Egret 2017-43 Snowy Egret 2017-42 Snowy Egret 2017-41 Snowy Egret 2017-40 Snowy Egret 2017-39 Snowy Egret 2017-38 Snowy Egret 2017-37 Snowy Egret 2017-36 Snowy Egret 2017-35 Snowy Egret 2017-34 Snowy Egret 2017-33 Snowy Egret 2017-32 Snowy Egret 2017-31

Snowy Egret 2017-44

Snowy Egrets often fish at Terrapin at this time of year.

Great Blue Heron 2017-73 Great Blue Heron 2017-72 Great Blue Heron 2017-70 Great Blue Heron 2017-69

Great Blue Heron 2017-74

I seem to be seeing fewer Great Blue Herons than in previous years.

Caspian Tern 2017-20 Caspian Tern 2017-19 Caspian Tern 2017-18 Caspian Tern 2017-17 Caspian Tern 2017-16 Caspian Tern 2017-15 Caspian Tern 2017-14 Caspian Tern 2017-13 Caspian Tern 2017-12 Caspian Tern 2017-11

Caspian Tern 2017-22

Caspian Tern 2017-21

This appears to be a Forster’s Tern.

Goldfinch 2017-9

I found this Goldfinch at Greenbury Point yesterday.

Red Shouldered Hawk 2017-6

This very loud Red Shouldered Hawk was at Tawes Garden.

 

Yellow Breasted Chat at Greenbury Point.

I’m having a little car trouble, so I’m staying close to home until I can get in to see my car guy., It’s working out OK, as it gives me a chance to explore nearby spots, and I’m finding a few birds and bugs.

I walked most of Greenbury Point yesterday and today, and got a few decent images and a bit of exercise.

Goldfinch 2017-8

Goldfinch 2017-7

Goldfinches are prolific at Greenbury Point.

Chipping Sparrow 10

This is a young Chipping Sparrow-I had to ask an expert.

Cardinal 2017-8

The Cardinal always looks good in bright Sun with colorful foliage.

Carolina Wren 2017-2

Carolina Wrens are much louder than their size would suggest.

Black Crowned Night Heron 2017-4

Black Crowned Night Heron 2017-3

I was surprised to see this Black Crowned Night Heron flying overhead.

Indigo Bunting 2017-3

Indigo Buntings seem to be around every year.

Osprey 2017-92Osprey 2017-91Osprey 2017-90Osprey 2017-89

Osprey 2017-88

This Osprey has a nest right along the path.

Yellow Breasted Chat 2017-3

You can hear Yellow Breasted Chats all over Greenbury Point, but they can be hard to photograph.

 

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail40

This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is one of the few I’ve seen this year.

Butterfly 58

I haven’t looked up the name of this butterfly yet.

Butterfly 57

This one is a Spicebush Swallowtail.

Butterfly 56

This may be a Sleepy Orange.

Butterfly 55

This one is a Fritillary.

Butterfly 54

Another unknown butterfly.

Monarch 47

It was good to see a lot of Monarchs.

Skipper 47

Skippers are very common at this time of year.

Eastern Box Turtle. 2

I found this small Eastern Box Turtle yesterday.

 

Blue Grosbeak at Blackwater NWR.

I’m getting into a Blackwater rut these days, but  there’s not much to find around here and I need my bird fix.

I’m getting the usual suspects, but was quite surprised to find the Grosbeak when I processed the images. He was only around briefly, and I just didn’t see him in the viewfinder.

Great Egret 2017-85

There’s still plenty of Great Egrets around.

Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-53

Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-51

Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-50

The Red Headed Woodpeckers are very busy feeding their young.

 

Osprey 2017-86

Two Ospreys were circling the nest, and the parent may have been warning them off.

Green Heron 2017-10

I’ve heard several Green Herons recently, but I don’t see them often.

Great Blue Heron 2017-66

Great Blue Herons often roost on stumps in the marsh.

Greater Yellowlegs 2017-21

Sandpipers, like these Greater Yellowlegs, are appearing in greater numbers.

Bald Eagle 2017-139Bald Eagle 2017-138 Bald Eagle 2017-137

Bald Eagle 2017-136

Bald Eagles regularly rest in the trees along Wildlife Drive.

Blue Grosbeak 2017-5

Blue Grosbeak 2017-4

This Blue Grosbeak was a surprise.

 

Glossy Ibis at Blackwater NWR.

Another early trip to Blackwater on a very hot and humid day. I went around Wildlife drive quickly, then hit the bridge on Key Wallace Drive looking for Swallows and Cormorants.

The Osprey chicks were more cooperative, and I found a lone Glossy Ibis after they’ve been absent for a month. I spent some more time with the Red Headed Woodpecker as well.

Orchard Oriole 2017-15

I found this Orchard Oriole yesterday at Governor Bridge (And nothing else).

Barn Swallow 2017-28 Barn Swallow 2017-27

Barn Swallow 2017-27

I tried way too many times for a Barn Swallow flight shot.

Red Winged Blackbird 2017-95 Red Winged Blackbird 2017-94

Red Winged Blackbird 2017-96

Red Winged Blackbirds are very busy feeding their young.

Great Blue Heron 2017-65

This Great Blue Heron seemed to be chilling.

Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-48

Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-47

Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-49

The Red Headed Woodpeckers seem to be good parents.

Great Egret 2017-83 Great Egret 2017-82

Great Egret 2017-84

Great Egrets are the most common wader at the moment.

Bald Eagle 2017-134 Bald Eagle 2017-133 Bald Eagle 2017-132

 

Bald Eagle 2017-131

Bald Eagle 2017-135

Bald Eagles often perch in the trees along Wildlife Drive.

Barn Swallow 2017-27

I tried way too many times for a Barn Swallow flight shot.

Barn Swallow 2017-28 Barn Swallow 2017-27 Barn Swallow 2017-25

Barn Swallow 2017-26

The Barn Swallows tend to stay very busy.

Greater Yellowlegs 2017-20

I saw at least three Greater Yellowlegs.

Glossy Ibis 2017-11

Glossy Ibis 2017-12

This Glossy Ibis almost got by me.

 

Red Headed Woodpecker at Blackwater NWR.

There’s still not much to see around here, so I headed for Blackwater early. It was actually a pretty good day, with great light and plenty of active birds.

I’m still not seeing many Sandpipers, but wading birds are plentiful, and a few passerines made a good show.

Barn Swallow 2017-24

I’m still checking out the Maple Dam Barn Swallows.

Great Blue Heron 2017-58

Great Blue Heron 2017-60

Great Blue Heron 2017-59

I was close enough to the Great Blue Heron to get a god look at his feet.

Great Blue Heron 2017-61

Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets rule the roost right now.

Great Egret 2017-75

Great Egret 2017-74

Great Egret 2017-73

Great Egrets are roughly equal in numbers to the Herons.

Brown Headed Nuthatch 2017-21

Brown Headed Nuthatch 2017-20

It’s not hard to find Brown Headed Nuthatches at Blackwater.

 

Red Winged Blackbird 2017-91

Red Winged Blackbirds are plentiful in every marsh I frequent.

Red Winged Blackbird 2017-90 Red Winged Blackbird 2017-89 Red Winged Blackbird 2017-88 Red Winged Blackbird 2017-87

Red Winged Blackbird 2017-86

I found this Red Winged Blackbird feeding his chick yesterday at Lake Artemesia.

Wood Duck 2017-65

Wood Duck 2017-64

This Wood Duck chick was also at Lake Artemesia.

Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-45

Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-44 Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-43 Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-42 Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-41 Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-40 Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-39 Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-38 Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-37 Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-36

Red Headed Woodpecker 2017-35

The Red Headed Woodpecker is very striking. I’ve located his nesting tree.

Raccoon 16

Raccoon 15

A swimming Raccoon! I’ve seen a few Raccoons, but never in the water.

Ground Hog 3

I seldom get close enough to a Groundhog for a picture.

Skunk 7 Skunk 6 Skunk 5

Skunk 4

This Skunk was foraging by the side of the road, and I was able to get quite close to him.

 

Baltimore Oriole at Greenbury Point.

The weatherman was calling for rain last night, but it looked pretty good to me, so I took a chance and went to Greenbury Point.

It was much better than it’s been recently, with Orioles, Herons, Goldfinches and an Indigo Bunting. I believe the Baltimore Oriole is the first I’ve seen at Greenbury.

Butterflies  seem to be getting more plentiful as well.

I stopped at the library yesterday, and got some images of the flowers growing out front.

Monarch 44 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 108 Red Spotted Purple 12 Red Spotted Purple 11

Monarch 45

Butterflies are getting more plentiful.

Flower 103 Flower 102 Flower 101 Flower 100 Flower 99

Flower 98

I’m not much on flower names, but they’re nice looking.

Cardinal 2017-6

There’s always a few Cardinals foraging at the point.

Yellow Breasted Chat 2017-2

Yellow Breasted Chars are plentiful at Greenbury, but it’s hard to get close.

Baltimore Oriole 2017-14

Baltimore Oriole 2017-12

Baltimore Oriole 2017-13

This Baltimore Oriole was a surprise.

 

 

Red Winged Blackbird at Blackwater NWR.

Back to Blackwater on the 4th of July. I was afraid it might be crowded, but it wasn’t bad at all.

The Great Egrets seem to have come back for a while. I saw at least 20.

There wasn’t a lot of variety today, so I stopped by Maple Dam Road and caught the Swallows and Cormorants.

Blackwater Dawn 15

Blackwater Dawn.

Great Blue Heron 2017-55

I saw this Great Blue Heron as I was leaving.

Red Winged Blackbird 2017-85

One of my better Red Winged Blackbirds.

Double Crested Cormorant 2017-18

Double Crested Cormorants hang out at the Maple Dam Dock.

Osprey 2017-82

The Osprey chicks continue to thrive.

Great Egret 2017-69Great Egret 2017-68 Great Egret 2017-72

 

Great Egret 2017-71

20 Great Egrets were foraging in the marsh.

Bald Eagle 2017-129

This Bald Eagle seemed to be keeping watch.

Barn Swallow 2017-22

Barn Swallow 2017-23

The Barn Swallows at Maple Dam Road are still very active.

Deer-65

This young Deer was indifferent to my presence.

The Old Dock

This abandoned dock is at Maple Dam Road.