American Coot at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on November 5, 2016 by Hugh

On Saturdays it’s possible to drive into the DC area without fighting commuter traffic, so I went back to Lake Artemesia. Early morning fog was a bummer, but it burned off after a while, and there were a few interesting birds around, including several duck species.

Some weren’t close enough for good pics, but I got a few decent shots.

I made a quick stop at Buddy Attick on the way home, without any success.

The Gazebo at Lake Artemesia.

I found a small flock of Lesser Scaup when I first arrived.

Several Pied Billed Grebes were foraging in the lake.

This Song Sparrow was one of the few small birds I found.

I found this Cooper’s Hawk yesterday at Greenbury Point.

A flock of 50 or more Cedar Waxwings was feeding near the lake.

This Blue Jay was also at Greenbury Point.

The American Coot is a dabbler.

Eastern Towhee at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on November 3, 2016 by Hugh

The sunrise was about average this morning, and very few birds were in evidence at Sandy Point. This warm weather has to be a factor.

It wasn’t really any better at Terrapin. The sparrow bonanza of a few days ago has dissipated, and very few waterfowl are about.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

My favorite cove at Quiet Waters.

There are plenty of White Throated Sparrows around but they don’t pose very often.

I found this Eastern Towhee as I was leaving.

Dark Eyed Junco at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Hugh

The Sparrows have finally arrived! Terrapin had hundreds of sparrows today, in several areas. I kept looking for hawks, who surely would have noticed the bonanza. The marsh ponds were barren, but I expect there’ll be ducks there soon.

I also stopped at CBEC, which was slow, but had some distant ducks and a few cooperative nuthatches.

The Bay Bridge from Terrapin beach. It was seriously windy today.

This is a Golden Crowned Kinglet.

This appears to be a Chipping Sparrow.

I don’t recall seeing a Ruddy Duck out of the water before.

Brown Headed Nuthatches are small and fast.

Song Sparrows were also numerous.

I often find White Throated Sparrows on the ground.

I was lucky to catch this Ruby Crowned Kinglet with his”crown” exposed.

Dark Eyed Juncos were numerous.

Ring Necked Duck at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Hugh

I did well enough yesterday to justify a return trip, and it was good enough. I was surprised to find myself going around in shirt sleeves this morning. Seems very odd for nearly November.

The Ring Necks and Ruddy were a little closer today. A few Wood Ducks were around as well, but a bit too far away.

A view of the lake.

This Great Blue Heron was very intent on his fishing.

This Robin found himself a nice berry bonanza.

I got a nice pose from this Yellow Rumped Warbler.

I needed just a bit more shutter speed for this Wood Duck.

A nice close up of this male Ruddy Duck.

This is a male Ring Necked Duck.

Pied Billed Grebe at Lake Artemesia.

Posted on October 29, 2016 by Hugh

I finally found some birds after three consecutive days of zilch. I do this for fun, but that wasn’t fun. I blame the very warm Fall, but who knows?

I heard that things were better at Buddy Attick and Lake Artemesia, so that’s where I went.

Buddy Attick had a good selection, and I spent a couple of hours there.

Artemesia was good as well, even if many of the birds were too far out for good images.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

This is a female Eastern Towhee.

I heard this Carolina Wren long before I saw him.

This Downy Woodpecker just ignored me as he fed.

I caught this Blue Jay as he was moving.

This lone Great Blue Heron was at Buddy Attick.

This Brown Thrasher was at Buddy Attick.

This Great Blue Heron was fishing at Possum Point.

I found this Chickadee at Quiet Waters.

This White Throated Sparrow is from Greenbury Point.

I’ve seen Double Crested Cormorants every where I go.

A single Pied Billed Grebe was cruising the lake.

Winter Wren at Greenbury Point.

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Hugh

Between bad weather and bad luck, I haven’t had much to post lately.

Today’s sunrise was far too banal to record, so I took a chance on Greenbury Point, which was a big disappointment a few days ago. Today was much better. Sparrows have been on the move lately, and activity has picked up in general.

This Eastern Towhee was at Terrapin.

This Eastern Towhee posed at a very odd angle.

White Throated Sparrows will be with us until March.

This Goldfinch is in Winter plumage.

This Bald Eagle flew right over my head.

Cormorants at dawn.

I was lucky to catch this Winter Wren, who only came out briefly.

I found this Fox at Sandy Point yesterday.

Eastern Phoebe at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Hugh

Sandy Point was a little better than usual this morning. It’s been fairly boring of late.

I got out out every day this week, but it’s been tough to find anything worth photographing. Terrapin is finally getting some small birds, and I expect they’ll stay for a while.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Many Song Sparrows were feeding in the meadow.

This Palm Warbler was hanging out with the sparrows.

This is an immature Greater Black Backed Seagull.

This Cardinal looked good against the green foliage.

I found this Swamp Sparrow at Greenbury Point yesterday.

Blue Jays seem to be migrating still.

Filed Sparrows are a little harder to find than some.

I only saw a few Dark Eyed Juncos today.

Eastern Phoebes are still plentiful, probably because of the very warm weather.

Canvasback at Possum Point.

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Hugh

It’s been a weird couple of days. Lousy sunrises and a real paucity of interesting birds. There should be many more passerines around by now, but they’re just not here.

Yesterday was almost a complete bust, and today wasn’t much better. I spent nearly two hours at Terrapin without taking a single picture, and that’s pretty rare.

I stopped at Possum Point on the way home, and found a very early Canvasback and an Eagle. Not much to show for a beautiful morning.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

This Bald Eagle flew overhead at Possum Point.

I found this great Egret yesterday at Terrapin.

This Song Sparrow is the only Sparrow I found yesterday.

I usually don’t see Canvasbacks until December.

Tennessee Warbler at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on October 15, 2016 by Hugh

I tried Sandy Point yesterday, and left quickly. Really bland. I went to some old places for a change, in hopes of finding some sparrows, and had no luck at all. 3 hours without a useful image.

Sandy Point was somewhat better today, but still not spectacular.

Terrapin was a real prize today, with several warblers and other migrants making up for the slow days. My theory is that migration is late this year, but it’s just a guess.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

I saw two Black Throated Blue Warblers today.

Northern Flickers continue to be plentiful.

Several Eastern Phoebes showed up today.

Yellow Rumped Warblers are everywhere.

A single Snowy Egret was feeding in the marsh pond.

This Mockingbird posed well in the bright sunshine.

This Northern Parula was a welcome surprise.

Brown Thrashers are moving through.

I haven’t seen a Tennessee warbler since last year.

Forster’s Tern at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Hugh

Sunrise was just barely OK this morning. Hopefully, colder weather will soon bring us something more interesting.

Terrapin was almost a complete bust. I expected way more birds, but even the ranger said it was dead.

I haven’t been to CBEC in a while, so I took a chance, and it was a little better, but not great. I was surprised to see 100 or more Ruddy Ducks, albeit too far for a good image.