Grasshopper Sparrow at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Hugh

I made the trek to Blackwater again, in hopes of getting some more good birds, and it worked out. The wading birds are still AWOL, but others are taking their place.

It was a busy morning, and I took more pics than usual, including a lot of Purple Martins.

Blackwater dawn.

I started by trying to get another Double Crested Cormorant with a fish.

This Eastern Kingbird is feeding a chick.

I just barely caught this Ruby Throated Hummingbird.

The Forster’s Terns were closer to shore than usual.

This Goldfinch was a nice find.

The Red Headed Woodpeckers were noisy and active this morning.

I haven’t seen a Belted Kingfisher in quite a while.

I spent too much time trying to capture Purple Martins in flight.

This Grasshopper Sparrow was right in front of the visitor center.

Today’s Bugs.

Eastern Bluebird at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

Posted on August 13, 2017 by Hugh

I tried Greenbury Point after yesterday’s rain, and did better than usual. There’s definitely some migrants passing through.

Today was the usual routine, Sandy Point, Terrapin and CBEC. Not much of a sunrise, but I did see a few more migrants. I didn’t get any great images. Perhaps migration will be early and prolific this Fall.

I went to Quiet Waters this afternoon and found a few bugs.

Eastern Kingbirds are in every place I visit.

Green Herons are fond of CBEC.

I just missed a chance for a better look at this Red Tailed Hawk.

I don’t post many female Cardinals.

I used to see more Great Crested Flycatchers.

I found a single Great Egret at Terrapin.

Young Wood Ducks are thriving at Terrapin,.

Yellow Billed Cuckoos are tough to find at Greenbury Point.

My guess is juvenile Chipping Sparrow.

Goldfinches are doing very well this year.

This may be a young Indigo Bunting.

It was nice to find some Eastern Bluebirds this morning.

I’ve seen many of these flies without getting a good shot.

I haven’t seen this moth before.

Little Blue Heron at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Hugh

Sandy Point was good enough this morning-not spectacular, but worth a photo.

Terrapin was much more interesting, including a Little Blue Heron, which I haven’t seen there in the past, and a few migrants.

CBEC was slow, with only a few waders, Barn Swallows and some Green Herons.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Several Greater Yellowlegs were searching for food in the lake.

This Chickadee posed nicely.

CBEC seems to have more Green Herons than usual.

This Orchard Oriole may have been passing through.

I haven’t seen a Blue Gray Gnatcatcher for a while.

This appears to be an Eastern Wood Peewee.

I found this Cardinal as I was leaving.

A few Snowy Egrets were feeding in the marsh.

This Great Egret is from Bombay Hook.

At Terrapin, Forster’s Terns often fish too far away for a good shot.

This Little Blue Heron has a small stick. which he used to stir up the water to attract small fish.

Double Crested Cormorant at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Hugh

It looked like good weather, so I went back to Blackwater this morning. I’ve been told the Cormorants like to fish at dawn, so I spent some time trying to catch them, and had a little luck. They tend to surface with their catch in their mouths, then swallow it quickly, so it took good timing to catch them at the right moment.

I did the usual rounds on Wildlife Drive, and spent a little time at the visitor center looking for butterflies, without much luck.

The gang hanging around at the dock.

Another look at the dock.

There’s a few Purple Martins hanging around the visitor center.

I’m not sure yet, but this may be a Grasshopper Sparrow.

This Osprey was looking for breakfast.

Great Blue Herons are far more patient than I am.

Chickadees can often be found near the nuthatches.

I haven’t seen a Catbird in quite a while.

The Orchard Oriole had a nest at the visitor center.

A few Forster’s Terns seem to feed regularly at Blackwater.

The Red Headed Woodpeckers are still very active.

I like the way Great Egrets look in a tree.

Brown Headed Nuthatches are easy to find, with a little patience.

The Cormorants were very active in the early light.

Yesterday’s lone butterfly.

Forster’s Tern at Bombay Hook, NWR.

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Hugh

I set out for Blackwater this morning, failed to pay attention and ended up in Bombay Hook. Oh, well, it worked out.

There weren’t as many wading birds, and birds in general were in short supply, but there were enough to keep me very busy for a while.

I got some good reflection shots, and the Forster’s Terns were very cooperative.

Someone must be feeding the Foxes, because 3 young ones approached me and seemed very tame.

We had rain yesterday morning, but I got to Quiet Waters for a while to experiment with my macro setup. I’ve been putting the Raynox 150 on the Nikkor 70-300, and I can get some really good results if I can mange the focus, which can be tricky as you’re so close.

This is an American Copper Butterfly, a first for me.

This Great Blue Heron seemed to be studying his reflection.

Several Forster’s Terns were fishing and feeding young.

I saw the possibilities in this pair of Great Egrets, and it turned out well.

Red Winged Blackbirds are everywhere in the marsh.

I spotted this Common Yellowthroat and was lucky to get close enough for a decent image.

Black Crowned Night Herons seem to always be in the same area (Bear Swamp Pool).

Several Eastern Kingbirds were flycatching in the marsh.

These Bald Eagle seemed content to observe the passing cars.

I found this Laughing Gull at dawn.

Many Goldfinches were foraging along the roadside.

There were more Killdeer than usual.

Yesterday’s bugs.

Least Sandpiper at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

Posted on August 6, 2017 by Hugh

Sandy Point was much better to me this morning, with a decent sunrise. There were far too many fishermen, however, so I’ll avoid the place on weekends in the future.

I skipped Terrapin altogether and went straight to CBEC, which had pretty much the same cast as yesterday, with the addition of an eagle.

I made a brief stop at Quiet Waters this afternoon, and found a few decent bugs.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

A few Snowy Egrets flew over early.

Forster’s Terns are still very active.

This Greater Yellowlegs was foraging near me.

The Tr-colored Herons are still hanging out.

A single Osprey was cruising the lake.

Eastern King birds are often found in pairs.

This probably a 4-5 year old Bald Eagle.

I see Least Sandpipers in many places.

Today’s bugs.

Tri-colored Heron at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Hugh

Sandy Point failed me again. There’s a web site that’s supposed to predict sunrise colors, and it’s proving to be worthless. Not a single image.

Terrapin was a disappointment as well, so I left there sooner than usual and went to CBEC. I’d heard there was a Fox showing up recently, and I saw it right away. I found it later as well, but couldn’t get a shot.

The lake was well populated with egrets, herons and a few Ibises, as well as Osprey and sandpipers. A very good morning.

I was lucky to catch this White Tailed Deer before she disappeared.

This Fox looked to be chasing a rabbit.

There were 30-40 Snowy Egrets and several Great Egrets on the lake.

I don’t often see Common Yellowthroat Warblers at CBEC.

A flock of 15-20 Least Sandpipers was foraging around the edge of the lake.

It’s my week for Forster’s Terns.

This Osprey is carrying nesting material very late in the season.

A few Greater Yellowlegs were feeding with the Egrets.

I haven’t seen a Tr-colored Heron at CBEC for two years.

I was just barely able to see this Heron in the phragmite.

2-3 Glossy Ibis were feeding with the Egrets.

A dozen or so Barn Swallows are still hanging out at CBEC.

This Cardinal has found a Praying Mantis.

This Brown Thrasher has a very large bug I don’t recognize.

Eastern Kingbird at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Hugh

I haven’t heard anything good about the local spots, so I went back to Blackwater this morning. I spoke with a volunteer, who thinks the lack of birds has to do with the heat and humidity, and she may be right. She directed me to the visitor center, which I visit only rarely, and I found a few birds there.

There far fewer birds along Wildlife Drive, so I guess we’ll have to wait for cooler weather for more variety and quantity.

Blackwater Dawn.

Another try at the dock on Key Wallace Drive.

There’s always a few Cormorants and gulls hanging around at the dock.

There’s still plenty of Barn Swallows around.

This Double Crested Cormorant wasn’t having much luck.

A few Purple Martins were cruising for bugs at the visitor center.

This Eastern Kingbird flew right over my head.

Many Forster’s Terns were roosting in the marsh.

This lone Great Egret was on Wildlife Drive.

The Red Headed Woodpeckers were very vocal today.

It’s a treat to watch Brown Headed Nuthatches up close.

There’s a nice flower garden at the visitor center, which attracts Hummingbirds and butterflies.

My Skunk buddy was right in the middle of the road this morning.

Blue Grosbeak at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on August 3, 2017 by Hugh

Back to Blackwater this morning. I didn’t have that much luck yesterday, so it seemed worth a try. I was very surprised at the lack of wading birds, and birds in general were fewer.

I tried DeCoursey Bridge and the bridge on Key Wallace as well, but there wasn’t a lot going on there either.

I still ended up with a few decent shots, so it will have to do.