The weatherman called for rain this morning, but the Sun was coming out around 8:00, so I went to Thomas Point, followed by Hillsmere Elementary, then Quiet Waters. Birding was extremely slow, so I turned over a few logs, looking for signs of life.
Buffleheads seem to be the first ducks to arrive.
Tundra Swans will be here for a while.
My first Canvasbacks of the season.
I’m told these might be Salamander eggs.
Today’s miscellaneous.
After consulting with the guys at AABC, I decided to head to Sands Road and check out the owl possibilities. Very little materialized, possibly because there were so many raptors in the area.
I then headed to Jug Bay, where most of the birds were too distant for good photos, but I did find a few who cooperated.
This Ring Billed Gull flew quite close. I’m not a gull guy, but they do pose nicely for flight shots.
This Hermit Thrush was out in the open, unlike most I’ve seen.
This Goldfinch is not as dull as many at this time of year.
Several Double Crested Cormorants were flying up and down the river.
I can’t quite tell what this Crow is carrying.
These Tundra Swans flew right over my head, and I missed the best shot.
This Bald Eagle is immature (Less than 5 years old).
I think this is a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk.
It was quite cold this morning, so I had planned a quick car visit to a few spots in hopes of running across a Snowy Owl. I didn’t actually find much at Thomas Point, but Jonas Green and Greenbury Point were worthwhile.
The Merlin is only my second. Apparently this bird is only seen here in the Winter.
This Song Sparrow was foraging in the cold. You have to admire their hardiness.
This Red Bellied Woodpecker was one of the few birds moving around with the Merlin in the vicinity.
My friend Dan calls this Merlin, “One of the coolest birds on the planet.”
Cornell:
“Merlins are small, fierce falcons that use surprise attacks to bring down small songbirds and shorebirds. They are powerful fliers, but you can tell them from larger falcons by their rapid wingbeats and overall dark tones. Medieval falconers called them “lady hawks,” and noblewomen used them to hunt Sky Larks. Merlin populations have largely recovered from twentieth-century declines, thanks to a ban on the pesticide DDT and their ability to adapt to life around towns and cities.”
Another Northern Cardinal in good light.
The continuing Snowy Owl hunt led me to Terrapin Nature Park and the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center today. The habitat is perfect, and some owls have been spotted, but it wasn’t my day.
I did get some other very nice birds, however, and my best BH Nuthatch to date.
A very handsome White Throated Sparrow.
I was a little surprised to see this Ruby Crowned Kinglet so late in the year.
This Red Bellied Woodpecker was foraging at Terrapin.
I spooked this Great Blue Heron at CBEC.
Another Cardinal in good light.
The Brown Headed Nuthatch usually stays high in the trees, so I was lucky to find this pair excavating a nest hole.
This Blue Jay appears to be fluffed up against the cold.
I followed this Belted Kingfisher long enough to get a flight shot.
Bald Eagle are easy to find at this time of year.
Yellow Rumped Warblers are still hanging in there.
What happened here?
I left early in the rain and gloom to seek a Snowy Owl, but had no luck. Several have been reported nearby, but it’s going to take some luck to find one.
There were a few birds at Thomas Point and I’m posting the best shots.
These beautiful Tundra Swans will be with us for while.
This Red Breasted Merganser seemed to be solo. There are plenty of Buffleheads at the point.
After a cloudy, foggy start, the weather got clearer and warmer, so I headed to to Thomas it to see what might be there. I saw a Swan fly over, and a few Bufflehead, but not much else.
I then stopped at Hillsmere Elementary and Quiet Waters in hopes of finding a Snowy Owl, but none were to be seen. A friend reported a snowy was seen in Hillsmere on Monday, but a quick run through the neighborhood turned up nada.
I turned over a few logs at Quiet Waters, and found a few bugs.
This little rock at Thomas Point often hosts a Double Crested Cormorant.
This Ring Billed Gull seemed to be by himself.
This flock of Lesser Scaup was well off the point.
This Northern Cardinal was the only bird I found at Hillsmere Elementary.
Today’s Bugs.
The Snowy Owl Hunt continues. One bird was reported at Bombay Hook, so I headed there early this morning. A visitor did see it, but I was not as lucky. Still there were lots of nice birds, although the light was poor.
I hit Jonas Green Park early, then headed to Greenbury, all the while watching for the flash of white that might indicate a Snowy Owl. No luck on the owl front, ‘though I may head out in search tomorrow.
No remarkable finds today, so I’ll just present the images.
Today was monthly chore day, so I only got out for a little while. Thomas Point is nearby, so I in for a little while and found a few decent, but distant birds. I made a quick stop at Quiet Waters on the way home, but didn’t get any good shots.
You can often find a Bald Eagle in this tree.
These Tundra Swans flew right over the point.
First of Season Red Breasted Merganser.
This Great Blue Heron was fishing at Quiet Waters.
This Double Crested Cormorant stayed on this perch for a long time.
With reports of Snowy Owls coming from all over Eastern Maryland, I decided to try Terrapin to see if I could get lucky. I didn’t find any Owls, but Eagles cooperated, and I saw my second Fox Sparrow, as well as numerous other birds.
First Common Goldeneye of the season.
There were Bald Eagles everywhere!
This Sharp-Shinned Hawk was unusually cooperative as I took several pictures.
This Ring Billed Gull is the picture of contentment.
I found this Red Tailed Hawk at CBEC.
You have to love a bird who poses so well, like this Mockingbird.
This Great Blue Heron was also at CBEC.
Fox Sparrows aren’t rare, but this is only my second.
The Northern Flicker is a handsome bird.
A small flock of Cedar Waxwings was feeding near the beach.
These Northern Cardinals were in near perfect light.
I saw several large flocks of Bluebirds.
You can almost always find Brown Headed Nuthatches in the pines at CBEC.
CBEC has set up a camera to monitor this Barred Owl nest. They expect it to be occupied in February.
Green Winged Teal
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Bufflehead and Ruddy Duck
Bufflehead
Bufflehead
American Black Duck
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Snow Goose
Snow Goose
Snow Goose
Snow Goose
Savannah Sparrow
Pied Billed Grebe
Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Northern Harrier
Mallard
Mallard
Green Winged Teal
Green Winged Teal
Green Winged Teal
Green Winged Teal