Gadwall at Jonas Greene Park.

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Hugh

It was seriously windy this morning, but not really cold yet. Sunrise was better than average, but I was surprised how few birds there were on the beach. Three foxes were having some fun, though.

I stopped at Jonas Greene Park to kill a little time before running errands, and found a few nice ducks in the little pond adjacent to the park. It’s been a reliable spot in the past, as well.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

These Canada Geese look like they’re waiting for a bus.

I don’t see Gadwalls very often.

Wood Ducks are regulars in the pond.

Three Foxes were playing near the water tower.

Carolina Wren at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on November 19, 2016 by Hugh

Back to lake Artemesia for another try, and it worked out OK. There’s still plenty of ducks and other birds around, if not as much variety as I’d like. Graeme joined me, and may have brought me some good luck.

Buddy Attick was a near bust again.

A view of Lake Artemesia.

It was a good day for Cardinals.

I saw this Great Blue Heron just in time for a quick picture.

A small flock of Ruddy Ducks is staying at the lake.

this Downy Woodpecker was very cooperative.,

Many Herring Gulls were feeding.

There always seems to be 6-8 Pied Billed Grebes nearby.

I got a little closer to the Ring Necked Ducks today.

It was a good day for Northern Flickers also.

We saw Wood Ducks as soon as we arrived.

I haven’t gotten a good Carolina Wren image in a while.

Ring Necked Duck at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Hugh

Given the disappointing results around here, I went back to Artemesia again, despite the traffic.

While it wasn’t great, I did get a few good images. I also stopped At Buddy Attick again, with no results. Graeme told me it got lively about a half hour after I left.

I found this Downy Woodpecker near Indian Creek.

A small flock of Ruddy Ducks is still in residence.

This Eastern Towhee was a nice find.

Several Mallards flew over the lake.

I found these Wood Ducks as I arrived.

Two flocks of Ring Necked Ducks were feeding in the lake.

Brown Pelican at Beverly Triton Beach.

Posted on November 17, 2016 by Hugh

I heard there were some Pelicans in Edgewater, and I hadn’t been there in several years, so I went early this morning. It’s one of those places where you have to wait for someone to open the gate, and they were late, so I climbed the fence.

I walked the 200 yard beach without seeing much except gulls and herons, then I noticed a fishing weir some ways out, and there was a Brown Pelican perched on it. Not a great shot, but I’ll take it as we don’t usually get a lot of Pelicans. I found a few small birds in the beach grass, and several Flickers as well.

A later stop at Quiet Waters drew a blank.

Sunrise at the beach.

My favorite cove at Quiet Waters.

Many Dark Eyed Juncos were feeding in the grass.

Another Heron silhouette.

The beach faces East, so morning shots tend to be into the Sun. like this Great Blue Heron.

Several Northern Flickers were feeding in the grass.

A distant Brown Pelican.

Not quite a Super Moon.

Northern Harrier at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

Posted on November 16, 2016 by Hugh

t’s been a sparse week so far. I’ve often wondered how there can be a bird drought in one area, and plenty of birds just a few miles away.

I’m posting what I found at Thomas Point and CBEC in the last couple of days, and hoping for better luck tomorrow.

Morning at Sandy Point.

This Canada Goose was at Lake Artemesia.

Two small flocks of Northern Pintails were foraging in Lake Knapp.

I’d have liked this Common Loon to have moved just a little closer.

This Northern Harrier was just a bit too far away.

Blackpoll Warbler at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on November 13, 2016 by Hugh

Artemesia treated me well yesterday, so back I went. I’m not sure why we aren’t getting better birds locally, but they’ll be here eventually.

The Blackpoll Warbler is a very late migrant, and a nice find. Artemesia is still getting a nice selection of birds. I also stopped at Buddy Attick again, but didn’t find much. I expect I’d do better if I were there earlier.

Views of Lake Artemesia.

This Northern Flicker was also at Buddy Attick.

Pied Billed Grebes were foraging in several areas.

I found this Dark Eyed Junco at Buddy Attick.

This great Blue Heron posed very nicely.

Cardinals look good in full sun.

Common Starlings look very good in the right light.

This Downy Woodpecker poosed in very nice light.

I often pass up Mockingbirds, but this one posed better than most.

I got a better look at the Buffleheads today.

Ruddy Ducks are still present in good numbers.

This is a female Red Bellied Woodpecker.

A large flock of Cedar Waxwings was feeding on berries.

This young Blackpoll Warbler is migrating quite late.

Ring Necked Duck at Lake Artmesia.

Posted on November 12, 2016 by Hugh

I went to Artemesia on this Saturday, and there was virtually no traffic. I really don’t like commuter traffic, and I find driving in the dark isn’t as easy as it used to be. Old age is not for sissies.

Artemesia was well populated with ducks this morning, and I made three trips around the lake to get good views of them all.

I was alerted to some nearby Wood Ducks by a fellow birder, and added them to my total as I left.

Views of Lake Artemesia.

I was surprised to see these Hooded Mergansers hanging out with the Wood Ducks.

These Wood Ducks were in the stream that adjoins the lake.

Two Hooded Mergansers were foraging with the Buffleheads.

A large flock of Buffleheads was moving up and down the lake.

Many Canada Geese were feeding in the lake.

Ruddy Ducks were well represented also.

This great Blue Heron was fishing near shore.

I saw this Double Crested Cormorant fly in.

At least three Pied Billed Grebes were foraging along the edges of the lake.

20 or so Ring Necked Ducks were in the lake.

Say’s Phoebe at Sandy Point State Park.

Posted on November 10, 2016 by Hugh

After another ordinary sunrise, I went looking for the Say’s Phoebe that was reported in the area, to no avail.

I spent an hour a Terrapin without seeing anything interesting, then went to CBEC, which was only marginally better.

On the way home, I stopped at Sandy Point again, and got lucky this time. This Phoebe belongs many (1000 or more) miles west of here, so it’s quite a treat to find one.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

This Bald Eagle flew over my head at CBEC.

Cornell: “Like other phoebes, the rusty-bellied Say’s Phoebe is common around people, often nesting on buildings. A bird of open country, it is found from Alaska through Mexico.”

Pied Billed Grebe at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Hugh

With the earlier sunrise, I decided to try Artemesia this morning to see if I could beat the traffic. It wasn’t too bad, but not as good as a weekend.

There was fog early, but it cleared up around 8:30 and I found a few good birds.