White Crowned Sparrow at Bombay Hook NWR.

We seem to be in between seasons again. Most of migration is over, but many more ducks will be arriving soon, and a few small birds are still passing through. A little luck is needed to find anything good.

I went to Bombay Hook in hopes of getting lucky, and I did just OK. The water is still high, so Sandpipers and other wading birds were in short supply.

I did find some nice ducks and a field full of Sparrows, so it turned out OK.

Bombay Hook 18

On the road to Allee House.

Song Sparrow 2018-18

This Song Sparrow was near the Visitor Center.

Northern Flicker 2018-8

I found this Northern Flicker on the Marsh Trail.

Yellow Rumped Warbler 2018-6

Yellow Rumped Warbler 2018-7

I saw several Yellow Rumped Warblers this morning.

Green Winged Teal 2018-5

Green Winged Teals aren’t present in big numbers yet.

 

Great Egret 2018-101

A few Great Egrets are still around.

White Breasted Nuthatch 2018-1

I haven’t seen a White Breasted Nuthatch in quite a while.

Eastern Phoebe 2018-10

This appears to be an Eastern Phoebe.

Black Duck 2018-6

Black Duck 2018-7

Many Black Ducks were feeding in the marsh.

Northern Shoveler 2018-20

Northern Shovelers were present in good numbers.

Great Egret 2018-100

Great Egret 2018-101

A few Great Egrets are still around.

 

 

Snowy Egret 2018-43

I saw very few Snowy Egrets.

Canada Goose 2018-3z6

A few Canada Geese swimming sedately

Bald Eagle 2018-73

This Bald Eagle pair seemed like sentinels.

Pied Billed Grebe 2018-7

A single Pied Billed Grebe was hanging out with the Black Ducks.

Mute Swan 2018-10

Mute Swan 2018-11

This is the first time I’ve seen a Mute Swan in flight.

White Crowned Sparrow 2018-5

This is a Swamp Sparrow.

White Crowned Sparrow 2018-4

This is a juvenile White Crowned Sparrow.

Golden Crowned Kinglet at Terrapin Nature Park.

Sandy Point finally provided a colorful dawn! I think this year has been much less interesting than last year, but I haven’t made a proper study of it.

Terrapin was slower than yesterday, but I did find a decent Kinglet that I hadn’t seen yet.  A few ducks were a nice addition, but it was a so-so day.

Sandy Point 526

Sandy Point 525

Dawn at Sandy Point.

Great Blue Heron 2018-81

Great Blue Heron 2018-84 Great Blue Heron 2018-82

Great Blue Heron 2018-83

This Great Blue Heron flew across the marsh as I arrived.

White Throated Sparrow 2018-7

A single White Throated Sparrow was feeding in the big field.

Swamp Sparrow 2018-3

This Swamp Sparrow was busy feeding on the ground.

Blue Jay 2018-2

I caught this Blue Jay just as he took off.

Eastern Phoebe 2018-9

This Eastern Phoebe has caught a juicy caterpillar.

Black Duck 2018-4

Black Duck 2018-5

Several Black Ducks were on the pond with many Mallards.

Golden Crowned Kinglet 2018-1

I saw only one Golden Crowned Kinglet.

Purple Finch at Terrapin Nature Park.

I got to Sandy Point about an hour before sunrise, to watch yet another colorless sky. I left without taking any shots at all, and got to Terrapin a few minutes before dawn.

This was a much more fruitful visit. There were as many birds as a couple of days ago, and I got good looks at many nice birds, including two Purple Finches, a bird I seldom see.

I don’t know how long the bird bonanza will last, but it should be fun for a few days.

Eastern Phoebe 2018-7

Eastern Phoebe 2018-8

Several Eastern Phoebes were very actively feeding.

Palm Warbler 2018-12

This Palm Warbler was feeding on the ground.

Tennessee Warbler 2018-4

I think this is a warbler, but it’s hard to tell from this angle.

Carolina Wren 2018-4

This Carolina Wren was singing very loudly.

Tennessee Warbler 2018-3

This Tennessee Warbler was a nice surprise.

 

Song Sparrow 2018-17

There were dozens of Song Sparrows.

Northern Flicker 2018-6 Northern Flicker 2018-5

Northern Flicker 2018-7

Two Northern Flickers were foraging in the grass.

White Throated Sparrow 2018-5

White Throated Sparrow 2018-6

White Throated Sparrows are being reported everywhere.

Hermit Thrush 2018-2

I’ve only seen a few Hermit Thrushes at Terrapin.

Chipping Sparrow 2018-10

Blue Jay 2018-1

I’ve seen many migrating Blue Jays in the week or so.

Swamp Sparrow 2018-2

This Swamp Sparrow posed well.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet 2018-10 Tennessee Warbler 2018-2 Ruby Crowned Kinglet 2018-9 Ruby Crowned Kinglet 2018-8

Ruby Crowned Kinglet 2018-11

Ruby Crowned Kinglets were foraging in every bush.

Purple Finch 2018-1 Purple Finch 2018-2

Purple Finch 2018-3

This is only the second Purple Finch I’ve seen This one is a female.

Savannah Sparrow at Bombay Hook.

I made the trek to Bombay Hook this morning in hopes of finding some good water birds, but it was not happening. Some ducks have arrived, and a few Snow Geese flew over, but numbers and variety were low.

It was very windy, and the birds seemed to spook easily this morning. I made the circuit 4 times, and got a few decent images, but I’m hoping for better birds next time.

Bombay Hook 15

Dawn at Bombay Hook.

Bombay Hook 16

On the road to Alan House.

Northern Shoveler 2018-18

This is a Northern Shoveler.

Northern Pintail 2018-17 Northern Pintail 2018-16

Northern Pintail 2018-15

Many Northern Pintails have arrived.

Great Blue Heron 2018-80

This Great Blue Heron flew over as I was leaving.

Bald Eagle 2018-71

Bald Eagle 2018-72

A Bald Eagle seemed to be soaking up the morning Sun.

Snow Goose 2018-25

About 50 Snow Geese flew over the refuge.

Greater Yellowlegs 2018-20

I saw many Greater Yellowlegs in the distance.

Black Duck 2018-3

Black Ducks were plentiful also.

Savannah Sparrow 2018-3

Savannah Sparrow 2018-4

You can often find Savannah Sparrows by the side of the road.

Chipping Sparrow at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

I got to Sandy Point about an hour before sunrise, which is the best time to see the colors when the elements line up, but they didn’t cooperate today. I’ve spent several mornings in the parking lot this year waiting for a colorful dawn that never arrived.

Terrapin was the next stop, and it was OK, but not nearly as active as yesterday.

I haven’t been to CBEC for  while, so I gave it a try, but it was really slow. There’s plenty of distant ducks, but none close enough to photograph. A nice butterfly made up for the lack of birds.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet 2018-6

Ruby Crowned Kinglet 2018-7

Many Ruby Crowned Kinglets are still hanging around.

Palm Warbler 2018-11

A single Palm Warbler was feeding near the boardwalk.

Red Tailed Hawk 2018-12

This is probably the same Red Tailed Hawk I saw yesterday.

White Crowned Sparrow 2018-2

White Crowned Sparrow 2018-3

I was lucky enough to see another White Crowned Sparrow today.

Chipping Sparrow 2018-8 Chipping Sparrow 2018-7

Chipping Sparrow 2018-9

This Chipping Sparrow was foraging near the lake.

Butterfly 76

This Question Mark butterfly landed right in front of me.

White Crowned Sparrow at Terrapin Nature Park.

I started at Sandy Point, as I often do at this time of year, and got a few looks at a decent sunrise. I always want more color, but it was good enough.

I’ve been hearing that the migrants are on the move, and sure enough, they were. When I got to the big field near the parking lot, I could see dozens of small birds dripping from the leaves and branches. This only happens a few times a year, and it’s a real treat.

I was pleased to see it was a mixed flock of Sparrows and Kinglets. There were at least two cool Sparrows, and one of the Ruby Kinglets was kind enough to show me his ruby stripe, which doesn’t always happen.

A Hawk and a Warbler were just icing on the cake.

Sandy Point 523

Sandy Point 522

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Field Sparrow 2018-2

Several Chipping Sparrows were in the flock.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet 2018-3 Ruby Crowned Kinglet 2018-2

Ruby Crowned Kinglet 2018-5

Ruby Crowned Kinglets were everywhere.

Yellow Rumped Warbler 2018-5

A few Yellow Rumped Warblers were foraging with the Sparrows.

Red Tailed Hawk 2018-7 Red Tailed Hawk 2018-6 Red Tailed Hawk 2018-5 Red Tailed Hawk 2018-4 Red Tailed Hawk 2018-9

Red Tailed Hawk 2018-8

This juvenile Red Tailed Hawk seems to have lost an eye.

Field Sparrow 2018-1

This appears to be a Field Sparrow.

Eastern Phoebe 2018-6

Several Eastern Phoebes were flycatching.

Cape May Warbler 2018-2 Cape May Warbler 2018-1

Cape May Warbler 2018-3

This Cape May Warbler was quite close and posed well.

Lincoln's Sparrow 2018-1

This is a Lincoln’s Sparrow, only the third I’ve seen.

White Crowned Sparrow 2018-1

I’ve looked for a White Crowned Sparrow for several years. This is a first for me.

 

Black Throated Green Warbler at Quiet Waters.

After yesterday’s success, I tried Quiet Waters again today, and did well. I’ve said in the past that I should try Quiet Waters more often.

I had to do some searching to find the best spot, but it didn’t take long and I had over an hour of decent activity.  It can be tricky to find migrating birds.

Sandy Point 519

Sandy Point 520

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Eastern Phoebe 2018-4 Eastern Phoebe 2018-3

Eastern Phoebe 2018-5

Several flycatchers were foraging in the area.

Blue Headed Vireo 2018-1

This is the first Blue Headed Vireo I’ve seen this year.

Chickadee 2018-6

I heard several Chickadees in the area.

Downy Woodpecker 2018-9

Two or more Downy Woodpeckers seem to be in the area all the time.

Cardinal 2018-15

Cardinal 2018-16

This Cardinal struck a nice pose.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet 2018-1

A single Ruby Crowned Kinglet was feeding in the undergrowth.

Pileated Woodpecker 2018-8

This Pileated Woodpecker was in the area for an hour or more.

Black Throated Green Warbler 2018-1

The Black Throated Green Warbler is a striking bird.

Deer-71

It’s rutting season, so I expect to be seeing more deer.

Blackpoll Warbler at Quiet Waters.

I started at Sandy point this morning, looking for a colorful sunrise. I got nada. Gray, cloudy sky with no decent colors. I found no interesting birds on the beach, so I set out for Greenbury Point, which was also a bust. A lone Great Blue Heron at Possum Point provided one photo opp.

On to Quiet Waters. I tried a couple of favorite spots, and was getting ready to quit when I saw a couple of interesting looking small birds, and lucked into a mini-bonanza. A couple of warblers and other small birds made a dull  morning into something far more satisfying.

Great Blue Heron 2018-76 Great Blue Heron 2018-75

Great Blue Heron 2018-74

This Great Blue Heron was the only bird I found at Greenbury Point.

White Throated Sparrow 2018-3

My first White Throated Sparrow of the season.

Chickadee 2018-5

It will be easier to find Chickadees as the leaves fall off the trees.

Palm Warbler 2018-9

Palm Warbler 2018-10

This Palm Warbler was very cooperative.

Song Sparrow 2017-15

I haven’t seen many Song Sparrows lately.

Downy Woodpecker 2018-7

Downy Woodpecker 2018-8

Two Downy Woodpeckers were examining this nesting box.

Blackpoll Warbler 2018-3

I had to get help identifying this Blackpoll Warbler.

American Avocet at Bombay Hook NWR.

It’s been another long dry spell around here. I’ve gotten out most days, but there just wasn’t much to see. That’s odd for this time of year when migration should be in full swing.

I went to Bombay Hook again this morning, just to get a look at some decent birds rather than take another chance on getting skunked around here.

It was actually slower than I’d hoped, but a big improvement on the local spots.

Bombay Hook 12

Bombay Hook 13

Dawn at Bombay Hook.

Mute Swan 2018-9

This juvenile Mute Swan was probably born at Bombay Hook, as I saw several much smaller ones earlier in the year.

Short Billed Dowitcher 2018-11

Short Billed Dowitcher 2018-12

I don’t often see Short-billed Dowitchers.

Great Egret 2018-98

This Great Egret was one of only a handful I found this morning.

Northern Pintail 2018-14

This is a Northern Pintail hen.

American Avocet 2018-25

American Avocets aren’t as colorful at this time of year.

American Avocet at Bombay Hook NWR.

Yet another  three day stretch without decent activity. I’ve been to several places without any luck at all, and even the old reliable places are slow.

I made it to Bombay Hook this morning and got a few decent images, but not what I expected from previous years,

Sunrise at Bombay Hook.

Snowy Egret 2018-35 Snowy Egret 2018-34

 

Many Snowy Egrets were foraging in the marsh.

Greater Yellowlegs were in every marsh.

 

Great Egrets were numerous.

 

American Avocet 2018-23

This American Avocet posed nicely.

Northern Pintail 2018-12 Northern Pintail 2018-11

 

A few Northern Pintails were moving around.

 

You can often find Bald Eagles along the marsh drive.

 

One Double Crested Cormorant was relaxing in a tree.

Wood Duck 2018-50

I found this Wood Duck at Lake Artemesia on Saturday.