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 .
![](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Ring-Billed-Gull-2022-1.jpg?resize=584%2C519&ssl=1)
Ring Billed Gulls squabbling over a morsel.
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Wood-Duck-2022-2.jpg?resize=584%2C358&ssl=1)
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Wood-Duck-2022-209.jpg?resize=584%2C419&ssl=1)
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Great-Horned-Owl-2022-1-2.jpg?resize=584%2C424&ssl=1)
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Great-Horned-Owl-2022-1-1.jpg?resize=584%2C507&ssl=1)
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Great-Horned-Owl-2022-1-3.jpg?resize=584%2C755&ssl=1)
A friend found this Great Horned Owl and two chicks.
![](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Red-Throateed-Loon-2022-1.jpg?resize=584%2C451&ssl=1)
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](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Wood-Duck-2022-2.jpg?resize=584%2C358&ssl=1)
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Wood-Duck-2022-209.jpg?resize=584%2C419&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Wood-Duck-2022-128.jpg?resize=584%2C439&ssl=1)
Wood Ducks did very well here last year.
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Gadwall-2022-111.jpg?resize=584%2C493&ssl=1)
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Gadwall-2022-109.jpg?resize=584%2C426&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Gadwall-2022-115.jpg?resize=584%2C359&ssl=1)
Gadwalls seem to be thriving.
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Gadwall-2022-111.jpg?resize=584%2C493&ssl=1)
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Gadwall-2022-109.jpg?resize=584%2C426&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Gadwall-2022-115.jpg?resize=584%2C359&ssl=1)
Gadwalls seem to be thriving.
![](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Great-Blue-Heron-2022-211.jpg?resize=584%2C516&ssl=1)
This Heronry has at least three active nests
![Yellow Rumped Warbler 2022-2 Yellow Rumped Warbler 2022-2](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Yellow-Rumped-Warbler-2022-2.jpg?resize=584%2C411&ssl=1)
Yellow Rumped Warblers have been consistently hanging around the pond.
![Carolina Chickadee 2022-25 Carolina Chickadee 2022-25](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Carolina-Chickadee-2022-25.jpg?resize=584%2C461&ssl=1)
Carolina Chickadees were very active.
![Eastern Bluebird 2022-102 Eastern Bluebird 2022-102](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Eastern-Bluebird-2022-102.jpg?resize=584%2C607&ssl=1)
Eastern Bluebirds seem abundant this year.
![Osprey 2022-104 Osprey 2022-104](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Osprey-2022-104.jpg?resize=584%2C465&ssl=1)
Osprey returned to the area around the first of March.
![](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Hooded-Merganser-2022-3.jpg?resize=584%2C498&ssl=1)
All the Hooded Mergansers seem to have left the pond.
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Northern-Rough-Winged-Swallow-2022-100..jpg?resize=584%2C398&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Northern-Rough-Winged-Swallow-2022-101..jpg?resize=584%2C553&ssl=1)
A half dozen or more Northern Rough Winged Swallows are hanging around the pond.
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Gadwall-2022-109-1.jpg?resize=584%2C426&ssl=1)
![Fox 122a Fox 122a](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Fox-122a.jpg?resize=584%2C507&ssl=1)
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Great-Blue-Heron-2022-210.jpg?resize=584%2C424&ssl=1)
A fanciful Heron.
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Hermit-Thrush-2022-1.jpg?resize=584%2C512&ssl=1)
First Hermit Thrush of the year.
![Developed using darktable 3.8.1 Developed using darktable 3.8.1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Horned-Grebe-2022-1.jpg?resize=584%2C409&ssl=1)
I saw 10 Horned Grebes at Thomas Point.
![](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Great-Egret-2022-1.jpg?resize=584%2C597&ssl=1)
This Great Egret stopped briefly at Quiet Waters.