Some days you wonder why a grown man would wander around in the heat, the mud and the bugs looking for birds who don’t give a damn about you. Other days, however, make you wonder why everyone isn’t doing it.
Today was a good one. The King Rail is a life bird for me;in 6 years of frequent jaunts into the marsh I haven’t seen one, or even come close, yet two crossed my path and posed nicely this morning.
In addition, several nice birds and a couple of mammals took advantage of the very nice weather to be out in front of my lens and made my day several times over.
![Blackwater Dawn 47 Blackwater Dawn 47](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blackwater-Dawn-47.jpg?resize=584%2C390&ssl=1)
Blackwater Dawn.
![Ruby Throated Hummingbird 2018-3 Ruby Throated Hummingbird 2018-3](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Ruby-Throated-Hummingbird-2018-3.jpg?resize=584%2C421&ssl=1)
![Ruby Throated Hummingbird 2018-2 Ruby Throated Hummingbird 2018-2](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Ruby-Throated-Hummingbird-2018-2.jpg?resize=584%2C501&ssl=1)
Ruby Throated Hummingbirds were very active today.
![Purple Martin 2018-13 Purple Martin 2018-13](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Purple-Martin-2018-13-1.jpg?resize=584%2C520&ssl=1)
![Purple Martin 2018-12 Purple Martin 2018-12](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Purple-Martin-2018-12-1.jpg?resize=584%2C593&ssl=1)
The Purple Martin Colony at Blackwater is thriving.
![Red Headed Woodpecker 2018-9 Red Headed Woodpecker 2018-9](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Red-Headed-Woodpecker-2018-9.jpg?resize=584%2C486&ssl=1)
![Red Headed Woodpecker 2018-10 Red Headed Woodpecker 2018-10](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Red-Headed-Woodpecker-2018-10-1.jpg?resize=584%2C461&ssl=1)
![Red Headed Woodpecker 2018-8 Red Headed Woodpecker 2018-8](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Red-Headed-Woodpecker-2018-8.jpg?resize=584%2C483&ssl=1)
Red Headed Woodpeckers were easy to find today.
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![Osprey 2018-20 Osprey 2018-20](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Osprey-2018-20.jpg?resize=584%2C449&ssl=1)
I was surprised to see these Ospreys mating so late in the season.
![Osprey 2018-21 Osprey 2018-21](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Osprey-2018-21.jpg?resize=584%2C448&ssl=1)
These Ospreys were feeding at least one chick.
![Catbird 2018-3 Catbird 2018-3](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Catbird-2018-3.jpg?resize=584%2C570&ssl=1)
A lone Catbird was singing at the visitor center.
![Carolina Wren 2018-2 Carolina Wren 2018-2](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Carolina-Wren-2018-2.jpg?resize=584%2C642&ssl=1)
A Carolina Wren was singing also.
![Great Egret 2018-18 Great Egret 2018-18](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Great-Egret-2018-18.jpg?resize=584%2C602&ssl=1)
Only a few Great Egrets were present.
![Bald Eagle 2018-45 Bald Eagle 2018-45](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Bald-Eagle-2018-45.jpg?resize=584%2C632&ssl=1)
![Bald Eagle 2018-46 Bald Eagle 2018-46](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Bald-Eagle-2018-46.jpg?resize=584%2C524&ssl=1)
Several Bald Eagles were foraging in the marsh.
![Turkey Vulture 2018-2 Turkey Vulture 2018-2](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Turkey-Vulture-2018-2.jpg?resize=584%2C368&ssl=1)
I don’t often see Turkey vultures drying their wings on the ground.
![Eastern Kingbird 2018-11 Eastern Kingbird 2018-11](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Eastern-Kingbird-2018-11.jpg?resize=584%2C552&ssl=1)
Eastern Kingbirds were flycatching along the drive.
![Orchard Oriole 2018-9 Orchard Oriole 2018-9](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Orchard-Oriole-2018-9.jpg?resize=584%2C482&ssl=1)
You’ll usually hear an Orchard Oriole before you see him.
![Red Winged Blackbird 2018-17 Red Winged Blackbird 2018-17](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Red-Winged-Blackbird-2018-17.jpg?resize=584%2C472&ssl=1)
This Red Winged Blackbird has found a nice bug.
![King Rail 2018-1 King Rail 2018-1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/King-Rail-2018-1.jpg?resize=584%2C486&ssl=1)
![King Rail 2018-6 King Rail 2018-6](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/King-Rail-2018-6.jpg?resize=584%2C565&ssl=1)
The secretive King Rail is hard to photograph.
![Delmarva Fox Squirrel 32 Delmarva Fox Squirrel 32](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Delmarva-Fox-Squirrel-32.jpg?resize=584%2C555&ssl=1)
It’s not always easy to photograph a Delmarva Fox Squirrel.
![Fox 100 Fox 100](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Fox-100.jpg?resize=584%2C475&ssl=1)
This Fox was hanging out at the visitor center.