Barred Owl at Quiet Waters.

A cold and windy Spring so far. I went out yesterday morning and skipped a couple of spots because it was just too cold.

Graeme and I got to Bombay Hook again, and the Trumpeter Swans are nesting for sure. My amateur guess is late May for chicks (32-34 days incubating).  I think the Jonas Green Herons may be feeding chicks, but I haven’t got the angle to see into the nests. I’m not seeing any migrants to speak of, but it’s early days yet.

Lots of Wood Ducks this year, and a couple of Owls have been a bonus.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

This Trumpeter Swan is putting his rivals on notice.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

This is my 10th year of watching the Possum Point Ospreys.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

The Bombay Hook Mute Swans may be nesting.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

We found a single Common Merganser hen.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

There were many Bald Eagles at Bombay Hook.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

This is a juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Snowy Egrets are just arriving.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

These Great Horned Owl chicks are at Thomas Point.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

These Black Vultures found a dead Opossum at Quiet Waters.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

It’s been a good year for Wood Ducks.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

This Great Blue Heron was at Bombay Hook

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Black Necked Stilts are always a treat.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

This is a Short Billed Dowitcher.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

These Willets were mating at Bombay Hook.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Eastern Bluebirds are numerous this year.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

This Red Winged Blackbird hen was at Beach Road.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

This Gadwall seemed to stay later than his buddies.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Look closely to see the nesting Barred Owl.

Trumpeter Swans at Beach Road.

The routine hasn’t changed much; Local parks, check the heronry, try the Eastern Shore. Graeme and I went to Bombay Hook a few days ago and saw a lot of birds, including a tree full of Night herons.

I’d been hearing the Trumpeters were in the area,  but had only seen them once until I found them at Beach Road. It looks a lot like they’re building a nest, but it’s not a sure thing.  I thin k that’s a relatively rare occurrence in MD, so it could be exciting.

No warblers to speak of yet, but a couple of owls and some Wood Ducks make up for it.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Many Great Egrets were in the marshes.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

This Great Egret was feeding at Quiet Waters.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Many Ospreys are nesting at Possum Point.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Wood Ducks are doing well.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

We found this American Kestrel as we left Bombay Hook.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

A single Common Merganser showed up at Bombay Hook.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Green Winged Teal were abundant.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

This Red Winged Blackbird was looking for a mate.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Mute Swans regularly breed at Bombay Hook.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

We saw over ten Bald Eagles.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

I counted fifteen Black Crowned Night Herons.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

These Great Horned Owl chicks are doing well.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Look Closely to see this Barred Owl.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

All t he birds in the heronry seem to be incubating.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

This barnyard Mallard is nesting at Quiet Waters.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

The Trumpeter Swans disappeared into the reeds, where they appear4ed to be making a nest.

Great Egret at Quiet Waters Park.

In ten years of watching I had never seen an egret of any kind at Quiet Waters, so this was a surprise. They’re marsh birds, and not really expected at QW which is more woodsie.

It’s the season of Wood Ducks, Gadwalls and Great Blue Herons so far. I’m still tracking the heron nests, and I found an owl nearby.

My only small migrant so far is an Eastern Phoebe, but the warblers will be here soon .

Ring Billed Gulls squabbling over a morsel.

 

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

A friend found this Great Horned Owl and two chicks.

This distant Red Throated Loon was a bonus, as I haven’t seen many.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Wood Ducks did very well here last year.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Gadwalls seem to be thriving.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Gadwalls seem to be thriving.

This Heronry has at least three active nests

Yellow Rumped Warbler 2022-2

Yellow Rumped Warblers have been consistently hanging around the pond.

Carolina Chickadee 2022-25

Carolina Chickadees were very active.

Eastern Bluebird 2022-102

Eastern Bluebirds seem abundant this year.

Osprey 2022-104

Osprey returned to the area around the first of March.

All the Hooded Mergansers seem to have left the pond.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

A half dozen or more Northern Rough Winged Swallows are hanging around the pond.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

Great Blue Heron 2019-68 Bald Eagle 243a Bald Eagle 2019-26a Bluebird 43 Fox 122a

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

A fanciful Heron.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

First Hermit Thrush of the year.

Developed using darktable 3.8.1

I saw 10 Horned Grebes at Thomas Point.

This Great Egret stopped briefly at Quiet Waters.