Common Loon at Kent Narrows

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Hugh

Again with the sunrise, which was just average, then off to Terrapin and Kent Narrows.

Terrapin was slow, with a surprise RB Merganser, too far for a good image. Lots of Canada Geese and Mallards.

I decided to check Kent Narrows, which is a good spot later in the Winter. To my surprise, a Common Loon was feeding near the docks, and I was able to get some good closeups, albeit in poor light.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

The marsh pond at Terrapin.

I wasn’t going to post this Double Crested Cormorant because of the poor lighting, but I fiddled with it and it’s almost presentable.

I like this shot of a Mallard pair landing in the pond.

Canada Geese are everywhere nowadays.

This Great Blue Heron stayed still for over half an hour.

A pair of Blue Jays seemed to be huddling from the cold.

Common Loons are one of my favorite birds.

Ring Necked Duck at Quiet Waters.

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Hugh

I did the usual sunrise at Sandy Point, which was good enough, but cold and windy.

A quick stop at Jonas Green Park produced nothing, so I went to Quiet Waters, which had a nice variety of birds, including an FOS and first ever Ring Neck in that location.

Thomas Point was completely barren of water fowl, except for a few distant Tundra Swans.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge (HD).

It’s good to see Hooded Mergansers coming back to the area.

This Belted Kingfisher continues to tease me.

It’s tough to get a good Bald Eagle shot at Quiet Waters.

Mallards are almost always present in my favorite cove.

Cornell: “The male Ring-necked Duck is a sharply marked bird of gleaming black, gray, and white. Females are rich brown with a delicate face pattern. At distance, look for this species’ distinctive, peaked head to help you identify it. Even though this species dives for its food, you can find it in shallow wetlands such as beaver swamps, ponds, and bays. Of all the diving duck species, the Ring-necked Duck is most likely to drop into small ponds during migration.”

Red Throated Loon at Thomas Point

Posted on November 28, 2015 by Hugh

Awesome sunrise at Sandy Point this morning. I was kicking myself because I left a little late and missed some of the really spectacular light.

Quiet Waters was quiet indeed. I left after 45 minutes and went to Thomas Point, which had too many fishermen. There were a few ducks and swans, however, so things are looking up.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Looking East from Thomas Point.

This Great Blue Heron was fishing near the exit to Thomas Point.

This Herring Gull was cruising at Thomas Point.

I watched this Belted Kingfisher for 20 minutes before he flew.

Red Throated Loon. Not a great shot, but a cool bird. I wonder of it’s the same one I saw last week?

Bald Eagle at Terrapin Nature Park

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Hugh

After a decent sunrise at Sandy Point, I headed to Terrapin, where a couple of Bald Eagles and a gull posed well enough.

I tried CBEC again, but didn’t get a single usable image, even though some distant birds looked promising.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

This Mallard pair flew by just close enough for an acceptable image.

This is a nice series of a Ring Billed Gull fishing, a sight I don’t often see.

This Black Backed Seagull was right in front of me as I was photographing the sunrise.

Two Bald Eagles flew over in quick succession.

White Throated Sparrow at Greenbury Point

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Hugh

The Sandy Point sunrise was very nice this morning. I headed for Quiet Waters next, only to find they were closed, despite the hours posted on their website.

OK, so Possum Point is always open, but there was nothing of interest on the water. I did find a few birds behind the nursery center, but nothing really interesting.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Wikipedia:”High-dynamic-range imaging (HDRI or HDR) is a technique used in imaging and photography to reproduce a greater dynamic range of luminosity than is possible with standard digital imaging or photographic techniques.”

Song Sparrows will be easy to find all Winter.

This Double Crested Cormorant flew overhead at Possum Point.

White Throated Sparrows are among the last to leave in the Spring.

Northern Harrier at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Hugh

Sandy Point provided a great sunrise this morning, and decent weather as well.

I stopped at Terrapin for a while without seeing much, then Kent Narrows, which had no birds at all.

CBEC was much better, with distant Ruddy Ducks and Tundra Swans, and a few birds who ventured closer.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Two Bald Eagles were hunting in the marsh.

This Ring Billed Gull looks good against the blue sky.

This Great Blue Heron was the only shot I got at Terrapin.

This female Northern Harrier cruised the entire length length of the marsh.

Hooded Merganser at Quiet Waters Park

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Hugh

Back to Possum Point for the sunrise, which wasn’t much to look at.

I hung around for while, but there was virtually no action. I spent a half hour at the Nursery Center without seeing much, then headed to Quiet Waters.

I found the hoodies right away, hanging out with some Mallards, but after they flew there wasn’t much at all, except a lone kingfisher. Still, a good sign;the ducks are coming!

Sunrise at Possum Point.

This Belted Kingfisher flew by just once.

Hooded Mergansers are among the most attractive ducks.

Pileated Woodpecker at Quiet Waters Park

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Hugh

I met Graeme early and we went to Sandy Point for sunrise and gulls. The sunrise went well, but no unusual gulls were found. We did find a couple of victims of environmental pollution, however. Why haven’t we banned plastic bags?

A quick stop at Quiet Waters turned up the Pileated, but Thomas Point didn’t have much to offer except some distant ducks and swans.

Graeme and I and the sunrise.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

This Double Crested Cormorant is from yesterday at Possum Point.

This young Black Backed Seagull is tangled in some fishing line and has big problems. We notified the rangers about both these birds.

This Black Vulture has both feet tangled in a plastic bag. He could fly, but was greatly hampered.

We were actually searching for these birds, who turned up as I predicted. I’m not usually so lucky.

This the first time I’ve seen a Pileated Woodpecker’s tongue.

Sunrise at Possum Point

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Hugh

Not much in the way of birds this morning. A nice sunrise, but cloudy and cool.

Neither Jonas Green or Quiet Waters produced anything of interest.

Sunrise at Possum Point.

Bald Eagle at Possum Point

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Hugh

The sunrise at Possum Point was better than usual, and the Bald Eagles were closer. I was actually able to see them fishing in the distance after they flew over.

I spent some time at Greenbury Point, which was mildly productive, then I went to Jonas Green, which remains barren. The weather was perfect.