Great Egrets at Blackwater NWR.

There’s still not much being seen around here, so I went back to Blackwater, which hasn’t changed much. There are more Egrets, but everything else is about the same.

I did run into a couple of squirrels when I left.

Blackwater Dawn 13

Blackwater Dawn.

Osprey 2017-80

Osprey 2017-81

The Osprey chicks continue to do well.

Red Winged Blackbird 2017-83 Red Winged Blackbird 2017-82 Red Winged Blackbird 2017-81 Red Winged Blackbird 2017-80

Red Winged Blackbird 2017-84

Many Red Winged Blackbirds were active this morning.

Great Blue Heron 2017-52

Great Blue Heron 2017-51

Great Blue Heron 2017-54

I saw this Great Blue Heron as I was leaving the refuge.

Great Egret 2017-63 Great Egret 2017-62 Great Egret 2017-61 Great Egret 2017-60 Great Egret 2017-57 Great Egret 2017-56 Great Egret 2017-55 Great Egret 2017-54

Great Egret 2017-64

There were many more Great Egrets than last week.

Bald Eagle 2017-127

Bald Eagle 2017-128

Several Bald Eagles were roosting along Wildlife Drive.

Greater Yellowlegs 2017-18 Greater Yellowlegs 2017-17 Greater Yellowlegs 2017-16

Greater Yellowlegs 2017-19

All that marsh, and only a single Greater Yellowlegs.

Barn Swallow 2017-20 Barn Swallow 2017-19 Barn Swallow 2017-18

Barn Swallow 2017-21

More of the Maple Dam Barn Swallows.

Delmarva Fox Squirrel 18

This Delmarva Fox Squirrel was on Egypt Drive.

Matthew 1

Matthew and his family were crabbing at the Maple Dam Bridge.

Eastern Kingbird at Lake Artemesia.

I still have the problem of where to go each day, so I chose Artemesia this morning. The traffic is tolerable on weekends, and it doesn’t get busy until 9:00 or so.

More Wood Ducks are out, but no Egrets and only one Heron.  Hummingbirds are are scarce, and passerines in general are hard to find.

Eastern Kingbird 2017-17

This Eastern Kingbird seemed to be watching me.

I saw this Brown Thrasher shortly after I arrived.

 

Most Barn Swallow chicks have fledged.

Wood Duck 2017-61 Wood Duck 2017-60 Wood Duck 2017-59 Wood Duck 2017-58 Wood Duck 2017-57 Wood Duck 2017-56

Wood Duck 2017-62

This Wood Duck hen was keeping close watch over her ducklings.

Mourning Dove 2017-2

Many Mourning Dives feed in the grass at Artemesia.

Mallard 2017-27

Mallard 2017-28

A few Mallards were foraging in the lake.