Long Tailed Duck at Thomas Point.

Posted on December 31, 2018 by Hugh

I tried Quiet Waters this morning just for a change of pace. I’ve had good luck there in years past, but today was a bust.

I went straight to Thomas Point, and it was about the same, but some birds were in much closer and I got some decent images.

I finished up at my friend’s house on Thomas Point Road, where many birds hang out in hopes of getting fed by the locals.

Happy New Year!

The lighthouse at Thomas Point.

Female Canvasbacks aren’t as showy, but they have their own beauty.

You need good light to get the most from a Scaup.

If you look carefully through the flocks of Canvasbacks, you may find a Redhead.

There’s always a few Tundra Swans at my friend’s house.

Several Long Tailed Ducks were near the point.

Many Surf Scoters were feeding at the point.

This Common Goldeneye was qiuite close to shore, and I got her as she scurried away.

It’s fun to watch Buffleheads search for a meal.

Downy Woodpecker at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on December 29, 2018 by Hugh

The weatherman promised a sunny day and he delivered. I left early for Artemesia in hopes of getting some dawn color, but it was kind of tepid.

Canada Geese are still the dominant waterfowl, but there were plenty of others, including the continuing Goldeneyes, Great Blue Herons and a Great Egret.

A few Cormorants, Mallards and Gulls contributed, as well as a Cardinal and very cooperative Woodpecker.

Dawn at Lake Artemesia.

This Downy Woodpecker was quite close.

I haven’t gotten close to a female Cardinal in a while.

I kind of like this odd Mallard pose.

I’m not sure why this Great Egret is still this far North.

There are more Double Crested Cormorants than usual.

I’m used to seeing Common Goldeneyes in the bay, not in an inland lake.

Several Great Blue Herons were feeding.

Only a few Ruddy Ducks were foraging.

Buffleheads will probably be around all Winter.

This Carolina Wren was very loud.

The Canada Geese usually leave right after sunrise.

Ruddy Duck at Thomas Point.

Posted on December 27, 2018 by Hugh

I went to Kent Narrows this morning, looking for a reported Snowy Owl, but had no luck. There wasn’t much else to see, either,

Thomas Point was next. It was a warmish, calm day, and Thomas Point can be very productive in those conditions.

There were plenty of distant birds, as usual, but I did get a few decent images. I ended at my friend’s house, where I got some closer looks in good light.

It’s been a good year for Long Tailed Ducks.

A few Scaup were hanging out at my friend’s house.

I found only a few Redheads.

Tundra Swans will often have little spats.

Many Canvasbacks stay in the area all Winter.

Only a few Common Goldeneyes were present.

Redhead at Thomas Point.

Posted on December 26, 2018 by Hugh

The Possum Point sunrise was a disappointment again, so I started at Quiet Waters this morning. I looked around for about an hour, but there’s just not much happening there yet,

Thomas Point was about the same as previously; plenty of birds too far away for good images.

I stopped at my friend’s house on Thomas Point Road and got the best images of the day.

This Wood Duck is still hanging out with his Mallard pals.

A few Buffleheads were close enough for pictures.

Several Canvasbacks had ventured out close to the point.

Scaup can be very attractive in the right light.

The Tundra Swans were very active today.

A pair of Long Tailed Ducks is staying near the point.

Several Cardinals were foraging near the point.

Many Mallards have been feeding in the shallows.

I frequently find Redheads mixed in with Canvasbacks.

Bald Eagle at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on December 25, 2018 by Hugh

I was going to try for sunrise at Possum Point this morning, but it didn’t look very exciting, so I waited awhile and went to Lake Artemesia. I got a couple of dawn sky images, but it wasn’t as colorful as I’d like.

Artemesia was as fruitful as it was last week. There were plenty of interesting birds willing to pose, and the light was nearly as good as it gets. The Trumpeter Swan is still hanging around, and a couple of Mergansers posed as well. I only got one look at the Eagle, who flew right in front of me.

Yet another very good morning.

Dawn at Lake Artemesia.

Mallards look good in the right light.

There weren’t as many Canada Geese as usual.

There were at least 17 Double Crested Cormorants.

Ring Billed Gulls are regulars at the lake.

This Great Blue Heron moved around quite a lot.

Several Buffleheads were foraging in the lake.

My first good look at a Hooded Merganser this season.

The Common Goldeneye hens are still hanging around.

This Great Egret should be far South of here by now.

This Trumpeter Swan poses quite readily.

Red Breasted Merganser at Thomas Point.

Posted on December 23, 2018 by Hugh

I tried Possum Point early, to look at the sky, and it wasn’t at all interesting. I tried Schoolhouse Pond next, and it was not at all interesting. Only the usual suspects, and mostly too far away.

I ended up at Thomas Point. The weather was perfect and the water was calm, which can be ideal at Thomas Point. There were certainly plenty of birds, including two FOS birds, a Merganser and a Grebe. Again many of the birds were too far for good images, but it was a good morning nonetheless.

This Belted Kingfisher made only a brief appearance.

Many Ruddy Ducks were at the point, and most seemed to be sleeping.

You can hear the call of Surf Scoters from quite a distance, a soft whistling noise.

There were many Scaup, but only this one came in close enough for a picture.

I haven’t seen as many Common Goldeneyes as in past years.

First Horned Grebe of the season.

There will be Buffleheads at the point all winter.

Tundra Swans hang around all winter as well.

I found this Great Blue Heron at Schoolhouse Pond.

First Red Breasted Merganser of the season.

Trumpeter Swan at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on December 22, 2018 by Hugh

We’re supposed to have good weather for a few days, and I’ve been hearing good things about Lake Artemesia, so I left early to catch the morning sky. I try to avoid heading West in the morning during the week because I really hate the traffic.

The morning sky didn’t disappoint, and there was an astonishing variety of birds, including the Trumpeter and a Great Egret.

A really good morning, overall.

The dark sky and smooth water make for a nice composition.

Only a few Buffleheads were on the lake.

There were 50 or more Ring Billed Gulls.

A pair of Red Shouldered Hawks were very vocal.

At least three Bald Eagles were soaring above the lake.

Three Common Goldeneye hens have been at the lake for a week or more.

I found only a single Ring Necked Duck.

Several Double crested Cormorants were fishing in the lake.

3-4 Hooded Mergansers were feeding in the shallows.

This Great Egret is in the area very late.

I have sent off for the info about the tag on this Trumpeter Swan.

White Breasted Nuthatch at Thomas Point.

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Hugh

I started at Possum Point this morning, and got some decent dawn shots. There were very few birds about, so I headed to Sandy Point to look for the Snowy Owl that’s been reported. No luck with the owl, but I saw a very large number of Cardinals, more than I’ve ever seen in one place. There weren’t many ducks.

Thomas Point had plenty, but most were too far out to ID. The Wood Duck is still hanging out, and a few birds were close enough to capture.

Not a bad morning, but more variety would be nice.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Morning at Possum Point.

This Canvasback was at my friend’s house.

I’m finding more Long Tailed Ducks than in previous years.

Buffleheads are plentiful at this time of year.

This single Wood Duck seems to have been adopted by a flock of Mallards.

There were 10 or more Cardinals in the grass at Sandy Point.

I saw this White Breasted Nuthatch as I was leaving.

Black Scoters at Thomas Point

Posted on December 13, 2018 by Hugh

I checked out Possum Point for the sunrise, which was a bust this morning. I went to Quiet Waters next, and it was seriously slow.

Thomas Point was the hot spot this morning, and found some Black Scoters, which I hadn’t seen yet this year. They were distant, but close enough for an ID shot.

I don’t often see Wood Ducks at Thomas Point.

There seems to be more Long Tailed Ducks than usual.

Buffleheads are plentiful.

Ruddy Ducks were present in large rafts.

Lesser Scaup were the largest group.

These are Surf Scoters.

I haven’t seen Black Scoters for a couple of years.

Canvasback at Thomas Point.

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Hugh

The early skies were very cloudy, so I delayed my departure until 7:00. I began at Possum Point, which was disappointing, with only a few ducks and geese.

Thomas Point was more promising. Hundreds of ducks were in view, but most were a bit too far for good images. I met a couple of fellow birders, though, and we chatted a while.

I stopped at my friend’s house again and got some good close up shots.