Wood Ducks at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Hugh

It’s been a long dry spell around here. I suspect migration is a little slow, but one big kink in my favorite spots is the high water. Many wading birds look for shallow water and mudflats, and that’s hard to find around here right now. I can’t put any real blame on climate change, but you gotta’ wonder.

I’ve mostly been to CBEC and Terrapin, with a few trips to Wooton, Governor Bridge and Sandy Point. None are living up to historical norms, but there’s probably some bad luck also.

Anyway, here’s a few images from the last two weeks. Maybe we’ll have better luck soon.

This is a link to my Ebird checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S60147634

CBEC in the morning.

A pair of late season Yellow Billed Cuckoos were foraging at Lake Artemesia.

My first Pied Billed Grebe of the season.

Catbirds have been numerous lately.

This Domestic Goose is still hanging around Lake Artemesia.

Caspian Terns have returned to Sandy Point.

An early morning Egret at CBEC.

This Common Yellowthroat was migrating through Terrapin.

A Solitary Sandpiper was looking for a meal at Wooton’s Landing.

This has been a good year for Brown Thrashers.

A Black and White Warbler from Artemesia.

This is a Chimney Swift. I rarely try to photograph these erratic, fast avian missiles.

Arctic Tern from my trip to Seal Island.

American Redstart from Terrapin.

Several Wood Ducks were cruising the shoreline at Artemesia.

I’ve seen a lot of Eastern Box Turtles lately.

Tricolored Heron at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

Posted on September 11, 2019 by Hugh

We’ve had another slow week. I can’t fault the weather, but I’d like to see more migrants. How many times have I written that?

I’m sticking with my routine for now. Check out Sandy Point for morning colors, Look in on Kent Narrows. then head for CBEC, which is open 24/7, so I can show up when it’s convenient for me.

I’ve been told that CBEC is a good warbler spot, but I haven’t seen the proof yet. Still, there’s enough action to keep me interested, and migration is advancing every day. I stopped at Greenbury Point this morning for a change of pace, but I found nada there.

CBEC Dawn.

I found this Chipping Sparrow at Greenbury Point.

I’m seeing a few more Great Blue Herons recently.

I’ve seen as many as 15 Forster’s Terns at CBEC.

Several juvenile Black Crowned Night Herons are finding good pickings at Kent Narrows.

A few Snowy Egrets are still hanging out.

A few Great Egrets are foraging in Lake Knapp.

Most of the Wild Turkey poults have gotten quite large.

There are usually 75 or more Canada Geese on the lake in the morning.

3 juvenile Tricolored Herons have been hanging out at CBEC for month or more.

This Orbweaver set his trap in the blind, and I was able to get a fairly sharp closeup of the action.

American Avocet at Bombay Hook NWR.`

Posted on September 4, 2019 by Hugh

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, and that’s a reflection of the slow birding climate around here. Even trips to Blackwater and Bombay Hook weren’t sufficiently productive for a post.

So:this will be a compilation of the last week’s occasional decent photo. I entered a contest where you need to submit 20 Ebird reports from the same place during August, so I spent a lot of time at CBEC.