Palm Warbler at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Hugh

I got back to the regular routine today-Sandy Point (Another bust), Terrapin (Very slow), and then CBEC, which was also slow. I know others are finding good birds, so my luck just isn’t very good.

I did get another look at the Cackling Goose and the Great Horned Owl, but there wasn’t much else going on.

This Canada Goose may have been napping.

Another look at the Cackling Goose.

There are still many Northern Shovelers in the lake.

This is a hybrid Mallard.

Gadwall are still hanging out at CBEC.

Yet another Pine Warbler in bad light.

Palm Warblers are showing up in many places.

This 6″ Diamondback Terrapin was crossing the road as I left. Correction: I’ve been told this is a full grown Eastern Mud Turtle.

Forster’s Tern at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on April 10, 2017 by Hugh

With excellent weather promised, I decided to give Blackwater one last try for the season, and it worked out OK.

Most of the ducks are gone, the Eagles are very active, and a few Sandpipers are showing up.

Now it’s time to start looking for warblers.

This Northern Harrier was just a little too far away.

Greater Yellowlegs often forage in the marsh.

Several Double Crested Cormorants were fishing alongside the Terns.

Ospreys are very busy at this time of year.

This juvenile Bald Eagle ia about three years old.

Many Bald Eagles live at Blackwater.

The sight and sounds of Red Winged Blackbirds ring throughout the marsh.

Two weeks ago there were thousands of Snow Geese. Today there was only one.

These Forster’s Terns were at Maple Dam Road.

Caspian Tern at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on April 9, 2017 by Hugh

I met Darlene and Graeme at Lake Artemesia this morning. Darlene is thinking of getting a larger lens, and wanted to try mine. It’s a bit heavy for her, but I think she’s going to get one.

There were plenty of birds to choose from today, and there were plenty of photographers, also. The weather was perfect. Migration is well under way, and we did well. No warblers yet, but Egrets and Terns made up for that.

Lake Artemesia.

Darlene, arriving at the lake.

Graeme, taking a break.

This Great Blue Heron greeted me this morning.

Two Red Breasted Mergansers were feeding near the center of the lake.

A couple of Double Crested Cormorants were fishing all morning.

A single Great Egret flew in and stayed for a while.

This Pied Billed Grebe was cooperative.

I didn’t have much light for the Wood Ducks.

Tree Swallows are very active setting up house.

I liked the color of the water around this Mallard.

I’ve always enjoyed trying to capture Caspian Terns fishing.

Cackling Goose at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Hugh

It was a little windy and cool this morning, but I started at Sandy Point anyway. It was a total bust-a boring sky and no hint of m ore colors, so I got to Terrapin earlier than usual.

It’s starting to pick up there, but it’s still slow, even though I saw 5 Ospreys fishing, and a friend saw 10, later. A few Palm Warblers and Snowy Egrets helped

CBEC was a bit better, with the Cackling Goose, more Ospreys, ducks and Nuthatches.

Several Snowy Egrets landed in the pond shortly after I arrived.

There’s an Owl cam at CBEC, and this is the first time I’ve spotted the Great Horned Owl, who may be sitting on eggs.

Northern Shovelers are still hanging out in Lake Knapp.

Brown Headed Nuthatches were very active.

Another try for a Tree Swallow in flight.

I saw at least two Palm Warblers.

This Eastern Bluebird was checking out a nest box.

Blue Jays are migrating in small numbers.

This is the first Goldfinch I’ve seen in a while.

This Canada Goose may be nesting.

The little goose to the left is the Cackling Goose. Cornell: “The newly recognized Cackling Goose is a smaller version of the Canada Goose. Formerly considered the smallest subspecies of one variable species, recent work on genetic differences found the four smallest forms to be very different. These four races are now recognized as a full species: the Cackling Goose. It breeds farther northward and westward than does the Canada Goose.”

Little Blue Heron at Bombay Hook NWR.

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Hugh

With good weather promised, I made the trek to Bombay Hook to see if I could get a better variety of birds. I got lucky-many Sandpipers and wading birds have moved in, and there’s still plenty of ducks and raptors.

The Avocets are always a treat, and the Little Blue Heron is the first I’ve seen in breeding plumage.

Sunrise at Bombay Hook.

This Red Winged Blackbird greeted me at dawn.

Two Mute Swans were in Bear Swamp Pool.

I’m not certain which Sandpipers these are.

Several Bald Eagles were hanging out in the area.

There always seems to be a few Buffleheads.

Snowy Egrets were well represented.

I saw 8-10 Great Egrets.

These appear to be Greater Yellowlegs.

I’m not certain which Sandpipers these are.

A large flock of American Avocets was foraging in the marsh.

Green Winged Teals were more numerous.

Many Herons and Egrets were feeding in the marsh ponds.

This Northern Shoveler is really getting down to business.

I was lucky to spot this Little Blue heron.

Pied Billed Grebe at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Hugh

It was the first nice day in a long time. Lake Artemesia seemed as good a guess as any, so I got there early.

Wood Ducks and Grebes were active, as well as Canada Geese and a few Cormorants. I stayed abut three hours and got a few nice pics.

This Cardinal was singing to all who could hear.

Only a few Canada Geese were on the lake.

Two Cormorants were fishing in the lake.

Several Song Sparrows were all along the lake’s edge.

Many Wood Ducks seem to be pairing off.

A flock of 6-8 Pied Billed Grebes hung together all morning.

Snowy Egret at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Hugh

The weather hasn’t been much good, but I got out anyway. I sill have a lot to learn about lousy light photography.

I’m hearing about some good birds elsewhere, but I’m not seeing much on the Eastern Shore.

Perhaps I’ll try some new places next week.

I was surprised to see this solo Ring Necked Duck at CBEC.

There’s still a few Shovelers and Ruddys at CBEC.

First Pine Warbler of the season.

This Gadwall was at CBEC.

Song Sparrows are easy to find.

Many Ring Billed Gulls hang out at Terrapin.

Wood Ducks are just now arriving at Terrapin.

Only a few Geese were on the marsh ponds.

I spent too much time with the Tree Swallows.

Osprey mating and nest building is in full swing.

First Chipping Sparrows of the season.

First Snowy Egrets of the season.

Great Egret at Blackwater NWR.

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Hugh

We had a fairly sunny day with moderate wind, so I took the season’s last trip to Blackwater. It gets too buggy in the warm weather.

It wasn’t a bad day, but many of the water birds have moved on, and a few have moved in, including Egrets and Sandpipers.

At least four ospreys were active, and the Pelicans are still hanging out.

There are still many Northern Shovelers.

A lone Gadwall was in the tidal pool.

This Osprey is working on his nest.

Bald Eagles were very active and nest building as well.

I saw at least 4 Greater Yellowlegs.

I found this turtle crossing the road as I was leaving.

Wood Duck at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on March 25, 2017 by Hugh

I met Graeme at Lake Artemesia this morning, and we did reasonably well. My first Wood Ducks of the season, and some departing Ring Necks were a nice combination.

Other ducks, geese and a few Tree Swallows made for a good morning, with temps near 70 and not much breeze.

Graeme Simpson, looking professionally dapper.

This White Throated Sparrow landed quite near me.

This Double Crested Cormorant didn’t move for over an hour.

Many Tree Swallows were chasing bugs.

I suspect Ring Necked Ducks will be gone soon.

This Ruddy Duck is molting into breeding plumage.

You can only see the “Pied” bill during breeding season.

This Wood Duck greeted me this morning.

This Muskrat may be working on his den.

Tree Swallow at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Hugh

The weather man promised sunny, and we got sunny. It was a little windy and cool, but good enough.

I started at Terrapin, which was a little slow, but I got a couple of decent shots.

CBEC was better, as it has been lately, but still a little slow. There were many more Swallows than last week, and plenty of ducks, along with a pair of Osprey. It won’t be long.