Eastern Towhee at Governor Bridge Natural Area.

Governor Bridge is about 20 minutes from my house, so I’ve been spending more time there than at most places.The hummingbird is a big attraction because I know where to find him, and it’s got a good variety of birds and habitat.

Eastern Phoebe

I saw this Eastern Phoebe as I was leaving the park.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Some day I’ll get this Ruby Throated Hummingbird perfectly.


Western Tiger Swallowtail

Western Tiger Swallowtail

This is a bird Blog, but these Western Tiger Swallowtails are close enough.


Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireo

You hear a lot of Red Eyed Vireos, but they don’t always pose this well.

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee

Eastern Towhee

This is the first Eastern Towhee I’ve photographed at Governor Bridge.

Eastern Phoebe at Governor Bridge Natural Area.

I went out yesterday, but the rain came early and I didn’t get much. Today, was better, clear skies and a bit warmer. My obsession to get a great Hummingbird image continues. All I need is perfect light and a a whole lot of luck.
Fortunately, some other birds came along to brighten up the day.
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 Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Too many Ruby Throated Hummingbirds?
My Blog, my rules. 🙂


Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Governor Bridge is well populated with Indigo Buntings.

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

This Blue Gray Gnatcatcher came along while I was waiting for the hummingbird.

Common Yellowthroat

This Common Yellowthroat also appeared, and I neglected to change the shutter speed, hence the grainy appearance.


Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Waiting for a bird to appear? There’s always a Dragonfly nearby.

Great Crested Flycatcher

This Great Crested Flycatcher also appeared during the hummingbird vigil.

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe

I believe this is the first Eastern Phoebe I’ve photographed this year.

Bumblebee

There’s no shortage of Bumblebees, either.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

This female Red Bellied Woodpecker is from yesterday.

Cardinal

Cardinal

A pair of Cardinals are always foraging near the small ponds.

White Eyed Vireo

This White Eyed Vireo was also near the small ponds.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Regina pointed out this Red Bellied Woodpecker.

Spider Web

My first attempt at a Spider Web.

Cedar Waxwing

This Cedar Waxwing is also from yesterday.

Red Bellied Woodpecker at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Another perfect day! I had arranged to meet my friend Graeme at 7:00, and I got there about 6:30 for a quick look around. We roamed the canoe area for awhile, then circled the lake, which continues to disappoint.
We found a Bed Belly feeding on berried, then took one more look around the canoe launch before calling it a day around 10:00.

Acadian Flycatcher

We found this Acadian Flycatcher deep in the woods, so I left him dark to show the environment.


Red Bellied Woodpecker

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Red Bellied Woodpecker

I’ve seen this before, but it still seems unusual to see a Red Bellied Woodpecker feeding on berries.

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Buntings are thriving at Governor Bridge.


Cardinal

Cardinal

This Cardinal and his mate were feeding rapidly.

Robin

Robin

Like many young birds, this juvenile Robin wasn’t at all afraid of us.

Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

This Prothonotary Warbler was a nice find.


Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

This Ruby Throated Hummingbird is still hanging out at the same spot.


Dragonfly

Dragonfly

This Dragonfly was eating a small Beetle.


White Eyed Vireo

This White Eyed Vireo was reluctant to come into the open.

Chickadee

This Chickadee paused in his feeding long enough to pose.


Orchard Oriole

This female Orchard Oriole was the first bird I saw this morning.

Brown Thrasher

This is the first Brown Thrasher I’ve seen at Governor Bridge.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird at Governor Bridge Natural Area.

I stayed up late last night (Online pool, my guilty secret), so I got a late start and didn’t take my first picture until 9:00.
I met some birders who said they’d done well near the big lake, which has never been productive for me, and today was no different. Then, I wandered down by the canoe launch and found a Hummingbird out in the swamp. I got seriously wet, but it was worth it.
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 Hummingbird

I was photographing this Ruby Throated Hummingbird when he left his perch and flew to a nearby bush. Lucky me.


Western Tiger Swallowtail

This Western Tiger Swallowtail was in the same bush.

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

When birds are in short supply,a dragonfly will do.

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireo

This Red Eyed Vireo appears to be gathering spider silk for his nest.


Acadian Flycatcher

You can almost always find an Acadian Flycatcher.

Green Heron at Wooton Wetlands Preserve.

At dawn it looked like a clear, bright sky was in store, so I left the house around 6:00 to go back to Wooton, which is relatively close and has been very productive.
A Green Heron popped up right away, and the pics are reasonable even though he was backlit. A few others posed briefly, and it was a decent day with cool temps.
White Eyed Vireo

White Eyed Vireo

You can hear the song of the White Eyed Vireo everywhere at Wooton.



Ruby Throated Hummingbird

A Ruby Throated Hummingbird is about 4″ long, and this is what you see without magnification.


Silver-bordered Fritillary

I’m calling this a Silver-bordered Fritillary.


Catbird

It’s not hard to find these loudly singing Catbirds.


Chickadee

Chickadee

It’s a lot of fun to watch these little gymnasts.

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

This Cedar Waxwing may be repairing his nest.

Common Yellowthroat

This Common Yellowthroat was in the Hummingbird’s tree.

Green Heron

Green Heron

Green Heron

I haven’t gotten this close to many Green Herons this year.

Great Blue Heron

This Great Blue Heron seemed to be resting.

Orchid

There are many of these Orchids around the ponds.Thanks to Mark for naming this as Trumpet Creeper/Vine.

Yellow Billed Cuckoo

I didn’t recognize this Yellow Billed Cuckoo at first.

Blue Grosbeak at Greenbury Point.

It was very cloudy this morning, so I didn’t get away until 7:00. I headed for Possum Point, and was very disappointed to see it’s been posted with, “No Trespassing” signs. I’m trying to find out what that’s about.
The USNA firing range was open, so I was limited to the area behind the Nature Center, but I found a few good birds, so it worked out.

Bluebird

I saw this juvenile Bluebird as I was leaving.


Yellow Breasted Chat

As usual, in Summer, Yellow Breasted Chats are plentiful, but elusive.

Yellow Breasted Chat 37

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

This pair of Blue Grosbeaks was foraging together. They may have a nest nearby.

House Finch

House Finch

The House Finch is common, but colorful.


Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

I saw a small flock of Cedar Waxwings, but they flew off very quickly.

Killdeer at Swan Creek

After running some errands, I headed up to Swan Creek near Baltimore Harbor in hopes of seeing the Phalaropes reported there. I actually did get to see them, but they were little more than faraway blobs in a spotting scope.
I did a quick walk around under the gray, threatening skies, and got a few pictures, but nothing great.
I’ll try it again some day.

Frog

You could cover this tiny Frog with a quarter.


Dragonfly

I don’t have a name for this Dragonfly yet.


Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

This Osprey was not happy that we were near her nest.


Killdeer

I was lucky to get close to this Killdeer .

Yellow Breasted Chat at Wooton Wetlands Preserve.

With bad weather and work, it’s been three days since I got a decent chance to go out. I did manage a trip to Liberty Reservoir yesterday, but it was a bummer-I don’t know the place well and didn’t see much at all.
I went back to old reliable Wooton this morning and redeemed myself a bit.

Zebra Swallowtail

I’ve only seen a few of these colorful Zebra Swallowtails.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

This Ruby Throated Hummingbird is still hanging out at the same plant.


White Eyed Vireo

White Eyed Vireo

There are many White Eyed Vireos at Wooton, and they respond quickly to the Ibird App. This seems to be a controversial technique, but with so many songs being sung, I don’t see how one more could make a difference.


Yellow Breasted Chat

Yellow Breasted Chat

Yellow Breasted Chat

This Yellow Breasted Chat landed right in front of me as I was waiting for the hummingbird.

Bald Eagle at Liberty Reservoir

When I lived in Baltimore I used to spend a lot of time fishing at Liberty Reservoir (When I should have been studying). In those days it was easy to access. Nowadays they’ve fenced off the dam and closed some of the parking places, but it’s still a good place for wildlife.
I didn’t do spectacularly well today, but I’m going back soon to see what I can find.
Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Kingbird

This Eastern Kingbird was hanging out near the dam.


Chipping Sparrow

This Chipping Sparrow was foraging in a pine tree.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

I spent a lot of time at Liberty in the ’70s, but never saw a Bald Eagle.


Deer

Two Deer were grazing near the dam.


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Ovenbird at Patuxent NWR.

I went on an impromptu trip to Patuxent NWR with the AABC, and we had a so-so morning. We saw a few good birds, but the light was lousy and the birds elusive. The Ovenbird is my best such bird to date.

American Redstart  (Female)

We only got a brief look at the American Redstart (Female), and it’s not much of an image, but they are lovely birds.


Flycatcher

Flycatcher

I don’t have an exact ID for this Flycatcher yet.

Ovenbird

Ovenbird

Ovenbird

This Ovenbird was very responsive to my Ibird song.
Cornell:
“The Ovenbird gets its name from its covered nest. The dome and side entrance make it resemble a Dutch oven.”

Black and White Warbler

Not a bad shot of this Black and White Warbler, given the lousy light.