Monthly Archives: March 2021

American Avocets at Bombay Hook NWR.

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Graeme and I left early to drive to Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware. It’s about an hour and a half, mostly interstate and Delaware country roads.

We immediately saw 100 Great Egrets, mostly a white wall in the distance, with a few scattered nearer shore. We had high hopes for a great day, and we weren’t disappointed. Regrettably, the Egrets took off before we got any images.

Avocets, Shovelers, Eagles and other Sandpipers made up for it.  We were fairly busy for a couple of hours, then it slowed and we took off. A good day.

Graeme Simpson 38

Graeme Simpson sets up the shot.

Northern Shoveler 2021-4

Northern Shoveler 2021-1

We saw more Northern Shovelers than usual.

Greater Yellowlegs 2021-2

Many Greater Yellowlegs were present.

Mallard 2021-30

Red Winged Blackbird 2020-2

Red Winged Blackbirds can found in every MD marsh.

Cooper's Hawk 2021-3

Cooper's Hawk 2021-2

This juvenile Cooper’s Hawk was perched near the road.

Pied Billed Grebe 2021-1

Mute Swan 2021-2

A few Mute Swans are always in the area.

Common Merganser 2021-3 Common Merganser 2021-2

Common Merganser 2021-8

Common Mergansers are among my favorite birds.

Dunlin 2021-1

A small flock of Dunlins was feeding.

Great Blue Heron 2021-15

This Great Blue Heron was very relaxed.

Tree Swallow 29021-2

We found only a few Tree Swallows.

Ring Billed Gull 2021-2

I liked the pose of this Ring Billed Gull.

Greater Yellowlegs 2021-1

Many Greater Yellowlegs were present.

Green Winged Teal 2021-2

Green Winged Teal are a treat to the eye.

American Avocet 2021-7 American Avocet 2021-3 American Avocet 2021-4 American Avocet 2021-9 American Avocet 2021-5

American Avocet 2021-1

Several flocks of American Avocets were feeding in the area.

Pine Warblers at Quiet Waters.

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I’ve been to CBEC, Possum/Greenbury Points, Jonas Green and Quiet Waters in the last two weeks without a lot of luck. My Screech Owl has been making regular appearances, but there hasn’t been much interesting until today, when a small fallout of Pine Warblers and Chipping Sparrows hung around for half an hour or so. A nice find. Another Sapsucker showed as well.

Some are seeing Ospreys, but I haven’t found one yet. I’ll probably check Possum Point tomorrow.

Chipping Sparrow 2021-5

Chipping Sparrow 2021-6

Many Chipping Sparrows were feeding alongside the Warblers.

Cardinal 2021-22

Cardinal 2021-21

You can hear Cardinals singing throughout the park.

Screech Owl 2021-8

Screech Owl 2021-12

This Eastern Screech Owl has been visible in midafternoon.

Bald Eagle 2021-11

Several Bald Eagles flew over the park.

Black Duck 2021-9

I seldom see Black Ducks at Quiet Waters.

Wood Duck 2021-30 Wood Duck 2021-28 Wood Duck 2021-25 Wood Duck 2021-24

Wood Duck 2021-31

Several pairs of Wood Ducks are nesting at Quiet Waters.

Great Blue Heron 2021-12

Great Blue Heron 2021-13

Mallard 2021-28

A Mallard near Thomas Point.

Tundra Swan 2021-90 Tundra Swan 2021-92 Tundra Swan 2021-89

Tundra Swan 2021-91

Tundra Swans will be heading North soon.

Dark Eyed Junco 2020-21

Northern Flicker 2021-1

I’ve found several Northern Flickers in the park.

House Sparrow 2021-1

This House Sparrow posed at Jonas Green Park.

Surf Scoter 2021-12

These Surf Scoters were an unusual sight at Possum Point.

Downy Woodpecker 2021-16b

Downy Woodpecker 2021-18

This Downy Woodpecker pair seemed to be playing tag.

Tufted Titmouse 2021-6

There are many Tufted Titmice around.

White Throated Sparrow 2021-22

White Throated Sparrows seem to be among the last to head North.

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker 2021-6

This Yellow Sapsucker was a nice surprise. I haven’t seen many.

Cardinal 2021-22

Eastern Bluebird 2020-19

Eastern Blue Birds are doing well.

Pine Warbler 2021-4

 

Pine Warbler 2021-1

 

Pine Warbler 2021-2

10 or so Pine Warblers were in the grass, eating quickly and almost ignored me.

Screech Owl at Annapolis, MD.

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Screech Owl! Any Owl is a treat, but I’ve looked for this guy several times, so persistence finally paid off. He’s been around for at least a year or two in the same area, but his daytime appearances are rare,

Wood Ducks are setting up shop, Sparrows are gathering, Hawks are nesting and even a warbler or two have been seen. No birder can resist the call of Spring. A single Sapsucker was passing through, leaving his telltale sap holes.

South River 28

South River as viewed from the park.

Wood Duck 2021-17 Wood Duck 2021-15 Wood Duck 2021-13

Wood Duck 2021-16

Several pairs of Wood Ducks are nesting in the park.

Canada Goose 2021-34

Canada Goose 2021-37

A few Canada Geese are hanging around. Will they nest here?

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Carolina Wren 2021-11

Carolina Wrens are numerous and vocal.

Eastern Bluebird 2020-13

Eastern Bluebird 2020-18

Many Eastern Bluebirds live in the park.

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker 2021-3

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker 2021-2

A friend told me where to look for this Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, and I found him right away.

Dark Eyed Junco 2020-17

Dark Eyed Juncos are still numerous.

Cardinal 2021-11

You can hear Northern Cardinals singing throughout the parl.

Song Sparrow 2021-57

I see Song Sparrows 9ften, but they’re not numerous.

Downy Woodpecker 2021-10

The sound of Woodpeckers, like this Downy, reverberates throughout the park.

Dark Eyed Junco 2020-16

A shiny, freshly molted Dark Eyed Junco.,

Robin 2021-8

There are ofteh flocks of 50 or more Robins in the park.

Red Shouldered Hawk 2021-20

The Blue Jay harassed this Red Shouldered Hawk until he flew off.

Great Blue Heron 2021-8

A solitary Great Blue Heron stalks his breakfast.

Red Shouldered Hawk 2021-25

This Red Shouldered Hawk flew in as I was watching, and didn’t see me.

Screech Owl 2021-1

Screech Owl 2021-3

A real treat. This Red Morph Screech Owl is usually hard to find in the daytime.