Prothonotary Warbler at Governor Bridge Nature Preserve

You’d have to be an optimist to go out on a morning like today. Cloudy and threatening, with a 60% chance of rain.
I figured I’d be able to get a couple of hours in before the rain started, and it was a chance to try out my new flash, so off I went.
The Prothonotary showed up early, which was good, because not much else was going on, and the rain started after about an hour.
I found a nice warbler at Truxtun in the early afternoon, along with a couple of other birds, so it was a good day overall.

Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

The Prothonotary Warbler is an absolutely shocking yellow when seen through the lens.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

This looked like an older bird teaching a youngster to fish.

Cardinal

This female Cardinal struck a nice pose.

Indigo Bunting.

Indigo Buntings are still singing..

Carolina Wren

Carolina Wren

I found this Carolina Wren deep in the woods.

Goldfinch

This Goldfinch showed up when I was about to quit for the day.

Black and White Warbler

Black and White Warbler

Black and White Warbler

This Black and White Warbler was very cooperative.

Good Birds and Good Light at Governor’s Bridge Natural Area

I’m spending a lot of time at Governor’s Bridge because it’s nearby and very productive. I have to watch the cost of gas lately, so it’s nice to have several excellent sites nearby.
Although hot and humid was promised, I set out early in hopes of good light and was rewarded. Many birds were active early on, with Hummingbirds being prominent. I spent too much time chasing them, as usual.
Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

The Ruby Throated Hummingbird is the only East Coast species. I’d probably go nuts on the West Coast.


Red Bellied Woodpecker

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Although I’ve seen this many times, now, it still seems weird to see a Red Bellied Woodpecker eating fruit.

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Many Blue Gray Gnatcatchers were feeding rapidly.

Indigo Bunting.

Indigo Bunting.

Indigo Bunting.

Indigo Bunting.

Indigo Bunting.

Indigo Buntings were very cooperative today..

Great Crested Flycatcher

I saw a lot of Great Crested Flycatchers today.


Catbird

This Catbird has been banded.

Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpeckers have been scarce recently.

Blue Grosbeak

I only saw one Blue Grosbeak today.

Carolina Satyr at Wooton Wetlands Preserve

Another cloudy day, which disallowed perfect photos, but Graeme and I found a few decent birds, as well as a Butterfly with a great name.
We walked the entire loop, but the vast majority of decent photos were taken on the lower trail.

Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

I spent a lot of time experimenting in Photoshop to improve this Belted Kingfisher, but I’m not completely happy with the results.


Turtle

There’s nothing like a mud cloak to help cool off.


Green Heron

Green Heron

The usual Green Heron at Wooton is backlit, so I’ll settle for these.

Carolina Satyr

This appears to be a butterfly known as a Carolina Satyr.

Eastern Phoebe

I’m calling this an Eastern Phoebe until corrected.

Eastern Towhee

Yet another singing Eastern Towhee.


Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak

We spotted this female Blue Grosbeak on the lower part of the loop.

Northern Parula

I didn’t realize this was a Northern Parula until I uploaded it.

Eastern Kingbird

My new flash unit arrived yesterday, and it’s clearly going to make a difference on these gray days when the bird is close enough. Eastern Kingbirds have been relatively scarce this year.

Black and White Warbler at Governor Bridge Natural Area

It looked like another hot, humid and cloudy day, but I headed out early anyway in hopes of finding some migrants. The light was better than I had hoped, and a fellow birder spotted a Yellow Warbler in addition to the Black and White.
Nice variety today.

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

I saw several Blue Grosbeaks feeding in the trees.

Monarch

I haven’t been seeing many Monarch Butterflies lately.

Orchard Oriole

Orchard Oriole

This Orchard Oriole flew from tree to tree, singing loudly.



Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee

I’ve been seeing a lot of Eastern Towhees recently.


Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

I had never considered how difficult it must be for some Hummingbirds to preen.


Tortoise

I nearly stepped on this well hidden Tortoise.


Scarlet Tanager

Even partially hidden, a Scarlet Tanager is quite a sight.


Black and White Warbler

Black and White Warbler

This Black and White Warbler is probably migrating.


Red Eyed Vireo

This Red Eyed Vireo is molting.


Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Blue Gray Gnatcatchers continue to be very active.


Indigo Bunting.

Several Indigo Buntings were feeding in the meadow..


Acadian Flycatcher

Flycatchers are tricky to ID, but this is probably an Acadian Flycatcher.

Scarlet Tanager at Jug Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

I had planned a trip to Jug Bay last week, but my roommate insisted on paying the rent and utilities, so I had to postpone ’til today (They open at 7:00 AM only on Fridays).
It was nasty hot and humid, but the light was decent despite predictions, so it wasn’t a bad day. I had hoped for more variety, but that will come soon enough.
Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

This Scarlet Tanager appeared overhead as I was leaving the park.

Dragonfly

This Dragonfly was too close to ignore.


Acadian Flycatcher

Acadian Flycatcher

A pair of Acadian Flycatcher were foraging in the marsh near Otter Point.


Turtle

Turtle

Several Turtles were basking in the bright sunlight.


Forster's Tern

Forster's Tern

Forster's Tern

Forster's Tern

Forster's Tern

All these Forster’s Terns appear to be molting.


Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

I haven’t photographed Ospreys in a while.


Beaver

This Beaver was swimming across the river to his den.


Great Blue Heron

This Great Blue Heron was fishing at the end of the railroad bed trail.

Eastern Towhee at Governor Bridge Natural Area

I wasn’t happy about the cloud cover this morning, but the temps were OK, even with the promised high humidity.
I saw a nice female Redstart, and a (maybe) Blue Winged Warbler, which is promising for a decent migration.
I spent too much time chasing Hummingbirds in low light, but it was a decent outing overall.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

With just a little more light, these could have been very nice.

Great Crested Flycatcher

This Great Crested Flycatcher could have used a bit more light as well.


Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhees have become more visible in the last few days.


Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Buntings are still very visible.


Orchard Oriole

I haven’t seen many adult male Orchard Orioles at Governor Bridge.

Red Eyed Vireo at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Another day in Paradise, as they say. Temps were in the high 60s, with clear skies and a slight breeze as I set out for Governor Bridge this morning. I didn’t want to repeat yesterday’s experience, so I found another promising area nearby, and set up to wait. Gnatcatchers, Vireos and Hummingbirds soon appeared, and I stayed in place for over an hour. As I headed back to the “Magic” tree, my friend Graeme showed up in response to an email I sent last night, and we spent some time exploring the lake. He and I will meet at a new place in Beltsville tomorrow.

Indigo Bunting

This Indigo Bunting is still singing from the same perch.


Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Hundreds of butterflies are feeding in every part of the park.


Red Bellied Woodpecker

Red Bellied Woodpecker

This first year Red Bellied Woodpecker was eating cherries.


Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

I saw many more Blue Gray Gnatcatchers than usual.


Acadian Flycatcher

This Acadian Flycatcher was practicing his trade in a large tree.


Ruby Throated Hummingbird
Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbirds are hard to get, so I’m showing all the best ones.


Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireos tend to be shy, so I was lucky to find this guy feeding.

Magic Tree at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Today was as close to perfect weather as I’ve seen in a long time. Temps in the low 70s, clear skies and just a slight breeze. I left the house around 6:OO AM, and was at Governor Bridge by 6:30. It would have been sooner, but the off-ramp to 301 S. was closed for repairs.
After looping through the canoe launch area, I settled down in front of my favorite group of trees, and it really paid off. This area has plenty of berries, as well as insects, and a number of birds were feeding rapidly. I stood in one place for nearly two hours, and took some ungodly number of photos.
Catbird

Catbird

Catbird

Catbird

Catbird

Catbirds were everywhere, feeding rapidly.


Red Bellied Woodpecker

Red Bellied Woodpecker

This Red Bellied Woodpecker was also taking advantage of the berries.


Great Crested Flycatcher

Great Crested Flycatcher

I haven’t seen as many Great Crested Flycatchers as last year.


Ruby Throated Hummingbird
Ruby Throated Hummingbird
Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Not great images, but I felt lucky to get this Ruby Throated Hummingbird at all.


Robin

Many Robins were chowing down as well.


Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

The Blue Grosbeaks were feeding on insects.


Cardinal

Cardinal

Cardinals joined in the feeding frenzy also.


Ruby Throated Hummingbird
Ruby Throated Hummingbird

The secret to feeding on nectar is a long tongue.

Indigo Bunting

This Indigo Bunting spends a lot of time on top of a particular tree.


Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are still feeding in large numbers.


Eastern Phoebe

This Eastern Phoebe was flycatching from this snag in the big lake.

MD Biodiversity at Wooton’s Landing.

Even though the weather was a bit gloomy and cloudy, I left early for Wooton in hopes of seeing some early migraters. The clouds and some sprinkles kept me from getting anything really good, but I ran into Bill Hubick and Jim Brighton of the MD Biodiversity Project, who agreed to let me tag along as they explained the project to a newspaper reporter (“Jay”).
You can learn about this ambitious project here:

White Eyed Vireo

I called this White Eyed Vireo with IBird, but thr low light kept me from getting a really sharp image.


Catbird

I saw more Catbirds than anything else today.


Belted Kingfisher

I finally got a halfway decent look at this Belted Kingfisher.


Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are still feeding in large numbers.


Wasp

Bill and Jim told me the name of this Wasp, but I forgot it already.


Turtle

This Turtle was sunning in the pond near the river.


Bill Hubick

Bill, Jay and Jim

Sandy Point Seagulls

While it wasn’t as good as the last few days, the morning looked promising despite a few clouds. I decided to head back to Sandy Point and see if my luck would change. Sandy Point just hasn’t been that good for me.
Today wasn’t much different, so I watched a few gulls, who aren’t a favorite of mine for some reason.

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Several Blue Gray Gnatcatchers were feeding in the same tree.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

I haven’t seen many Great Blue Herons recently.

Ring Billed Gull

Great  Black Backed Gull

Laughing Gull

There were hundreds of gulls on the beach.