Trying out some video software.

It’s been cold for several days, so when I saw temps above freezing today, I decided to give Thomas Point a try. Luckily, I ran into the charming Dotty Doherty, and we spent a couple of hours checking out the bird bonanza.

The creeks have frozen, so many ducks have moved further out into the bay, and we saw well over a thousand ducks of various breeds.

We also stopped at my friend’s house on Thomas Point Road, and found many swans, along with a few Mallards.

I saw more Hooded Mergansers than usual today.

Two Bald Eagles flew over as we were observing the swans.

There were fewer Tundra Swans than usual.

Many Lesser Scaup were foraging at the point.

Some of the thousand or more ducks at the point.

Several Red Breasted Mergansers flew by as we watched.

It’s been very cold here-low 2 digits, and freezing near shore, which cuts down on the numbers of water birds.

I’ve been to Thomas Point a few times, as it’s some distance out in the bay, and won’t freeze until it’s been very cold for a while.

In truth, there hasn’t been much to see, but it’s improving as it gets colder up North and those birds head South.

Today’s selection is the best it’s been in a while, and it may improve as the weather gets worse.

This Crow was near the entrance gate.

Tundra Swans can be seen near the shore.

There are many Scaup at the point, now.

My friend has a nice feeding station in her back yard, and this Blue Jay was taking advantage.

This is a Common Goldeneye hen.

There’s almost always a few Buffleheads.

There were many more Ring Billed Gulls than usual.

It was a blah day, weatherwise, and I didn’t get out until 9:00. The Sun was just coming out, and the wind was just a little too much, but I went to Thomas point to see what I could see.

There were plenty of birds-Scaup, Buffleheads, Mergansers, but mostly too far out for good pics. I did get an acceptable look at the Mergansers.

I them stopped at my friend’s house on Thomas Point Road, and there was plenty of action. Many Swans, many ducks and a couple of Eagles who may have been hunting.

I hung around for an hour and got several decent shots before heading home.

There were many Tundra Swans hanging out near shore.

This Tundra Swan has a banding collar, and I have sent off for the banding info. The locals have named this bird “Julia” and say she’s been seen for seven consecutive years.

A medium sized flock of Canvasbacks was also near shore.

I found this Red Breasted Merganser out at the point.

Only a few Scaup were present.

Redheads look good in the right light.

I got out late yesterday, and spent a little time at Sandy Point. It was cool to find a Snow Goose mixed in with a flock of Canada Geese, a most unusual find for this area. There were lots of distant ducks and a few passerines also.

I went to Blackwater this morning, and found all the usual suspects, as well as a few nice ducks at Oakley Street.

Blackwater Dawn.

This Scaup was feeding at Sandy Point.

There were fewer Bald Eagles than usual.

Great Blue Herons were abundant this morning.

a huge flock of Snow Geese left the refuge early.

This Snow Goose was by himself, in a flock of Canada Geese.

I found this Red Bellied Woodpecker at Sandy Point.

There were only a few Northern Pintails.

This Scaup is another Oakley Street denizen.

This American Wigeon was at Oakley Street.

I only found two Canvasbacks.

There weren’t many Northern Shovelers.

I went to Lake Artemesia yesterday, and it was pretty slow. I also stopped at Buddy Attick, and didn’t do any better. I got a few good enough images, but nothing great.

Today I made the trek to Bombay Hook, which wasn’t nearly as productive as in the past. There was a fair amount of ice, which meant the dabbling ducks had to go elsewhere. There were thousands of Snow Geese, though, which was a spectacular sight. Tundra Swans, Canada Geese, Black Ducks and Mallards were plentiful.

Dawn at Bombay Hook.

Lake Artemesia.

These Hooded Mergansers were at Lake Artemesia.

Several Great Blue Herons were fishing in an ice-free pond.

Turn up the volume to hear the geese.

There may have been 20,000 Snow Geese in residence.

This American Wigeon was at Buddy Attick.

This pair of Pied Billed Grebes was at Lake Artemesia.

This Canada Goose was leaving Lake Artemesia.

I saw this Belted Kingfisher from a distance, and was lucky to get so close.

The weatherman predicted good weather today, so I went back to Blackwater. It was OK, but there’s still not the quantity of birds I’ve seen in the past. I blame the warm weather.

Even so, I did find a few interesting subjects and it was hardly a waste.

When I left Blackwater I stopped at Oakley street in Cambridge to see if the locals have been attracting the resident ducks with offerings of food, and I found a decent flock of Wigeons , along with few Canada Geese.

Blackwater Dawn.

Bald Eagles continue to be numerous.

A few Canada Geese were also looking for a handout.

I saw 4-5 Great Blue Herons.

I found only a few Hooded Mergansers.

Northern Shovelers are still being found in small numbers,

A large flock of Snow Geese was leaving as I arrived.

This America Wigeon has just landed.

It was cloudy this morning, so I didn’t go out until 8:00 or so. I usually stop at Quiet Waters first, but today I went straight to Thomas Point. There were a few decent birds, but mostly too far out for good images.  I did manage a decent shot of a Loon.

I then stopped at a friend’s house on Thomas Point Road, and had much better luck. She and her neighbor’s often feed the Swans, and they, as well as many ducks often congregate there. There was a decent variety today, and they were fairly close.

This Bufflehead came quite close to shore.

Many Mallards were swimming near the dock.

There were probably 75 or so Tundra Swans.

A single Common Loon was foraging at the point.

This Hooded Merganser and his mate were near the entrance to the park.

It’s been a slow couple of days. I got out to Sandy Point yesterday, after being rained out in the morning, and to Lake Artemesia the day before, but there hasn’t been much to see. A Blackwater trip was ruined by a  deer hunt that I failed to see on the Blackwater web page.

I did OK today. Not a lot of birds, but a few good pics, especially of the Loon, one of my favorite birds.

I found this Northern Pintail at Blackwater.

Tundra Swans have arrived in good numbers.

I saw only three Canvasbacks.

This Mallard was also at Blackwater.

I’m seeing more Buffleheads now.

Ring-necked Ducks have a subtle beauty.

A few Surf Scoters were feeding at Thomas Point.

You can almost always find a Bald Eagle at Blackwater.

This Northern Harrier was more cooperative than most.

This Common Loon and two of his friends were hanging around the point this morning.

I like to find birds when I go out, and I’m not finding many around here. It seems to me that wasn’t always so. In any event, I headed to College Park this morning, despite the traffic, which I came to loathe years ago.

Lake Artemesia was OK-not over abundant, but a good variety, including my first decent Grebes of the season.

I also stopped by Buddy Attick Lake, which is only a couple of miles away, and found a few good birds.

A good morning.

Lake Artemesia.

I found this Common Loon at Quiet Waters yesterday.

This Ring Necked image is enhanced by the reflection of the fall colors.

A single Great Blue Heron was fishing at Buddy Attick.

I found 4 Pied Billed Grebes at Lake Artemesia.

Two female Hooded Mergansers were resting at Buddy Attick.

Ring Necked ducks always seem to be at Lake Artemesia in the Winter.

Many Mallards are at both lakes.

This is the same Tundra Swan I found a couple of weeks ago.

I found 4 Pied Billed Grebes at Lake Artemesia.