Everyone loves the look of a Hooded Merganser.

I’m not sure if I startled these Lesser Scaup or they just took off on their own.

It’s not unusual to see large ships at anchor right off the point.

This pair of Hooded Mergansers was at Quiet Waters.

This (Hen) Long Tailed Duck stayed close to shore.

I often see gulls, like this Herring Gull mixed in with the ducks.

The drake didn’t come in very close, but you can see how the Long Tailed Duck got his name.

There were a few Common Goldeneyes mixed in with the other birds.

This is the third time I’ve photographed this Cardinal inspecting my mirror.

Lesser Scaup are very cooperative.

Mallards are so common I often overlook them.

This small flock of Buffleheads was feeding right off the point.

This Cardinal can’t seem to resist the mirror on my truck.

Lesser Scaup are much less fearful of the camera than other ducks.

Red Breasted Mergansers are still present at Quiet Waters, but they remain far from shore.

The Red Bellied Woodpecker announces his presence loudly.

This Bluebird was drinking at the edge of the cove.

Tundra Swans are large, beautiful birds.

It’s fun to try catching these ducks in flight.

I saw this Red Breasted Merganser at a distance, and when I walked up for a closer shot, he had disappeared.

This Bufflehead hen was travelling with her mate and a raft of Lesser Scaup.

A large flock of Robins was foraging on the water’s edge.

I’ve been taking a regular route through the woods at Quiet Waters in order to see more ducks. I saw this Hooded Merganser and his mates at a distance, and was able to get closer by walking an extra quarter mile.

Takeoff is best described as, “Explosive.”

When these Hooded Mergansers weren’t actively feeding, they were grooming.

This Great Blue Heron flew into the scene as I was photographing the Mergansers.

This Long Tailed Duck and his mate were at the fishermen’s pier.

The current in the Narrows is quite fast. and the ducks would often fly short distances to re-position themselves.

Several Double Crested Cormorants flew over.

This Black Backed Seagull was just hanging out.

Several American Coots were feeding near the pilings.

I heard this Carolina Wren singing softly in the brush, and moved around to get a clear look.

A Chickadee always brightens the day.

This Lesser Scaup was one of a large raft at Fort Smallwood.

When you’re hard pressed to find a good bird, you can count on the Red Bellied Woodpecker.

Here’s another Dark Eyed Junco for my sister.

The Song Sparrow is another dependable bird.

Look at the water surrounding this Lesser Scaup to get an idea of the wind and cold.

This Long Tailed Duck is almost lost in the waves.

The wind speed was much lower at Quiet Waters, and these Lesser Scaup look much more comfortable.

This Great Blue Heron was fishing on the opposite shore.

I see Mallards at most places I go.

It’s not unusual to see Herring Gulls hanging out with the ducks.l

I haven’t seem many Red Breasted Mergansers. so this pair was a nice surprise.

Buffleheads are often mixed in with the Lesser Scaup.

When I returned to the truck, a flock of Bluebirds was foraging in the trees.

This Mockingbird was eating right alongside the Bluebirds.

A flock of Goldfinches was very active also.

I saw this Hooded Merganser in a small cove through the trees and was able to sneak up on him, as they are very sktittish.

This Red Bellied Woodpecker has found a seed.

A little luck got this Cooper’s Hawk.

Wikipedia:
“The Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is a medium-sized sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes.”

Thomas Point Lighthouse was barely visible in the fog.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge looked good in the early light.

The Long Tailed Ducks seldom come in close to shore.

The Surf Scoter is an odd looking bird.

Decent light would help this Bufflehead image.

It began to rain, so I headed back to the truck, to find this Cardinal, who was very interested in my mirror.

There was a smallish, mixed raft of ducks off the point, including these Bufflehead hens.

Low light is still conspiring against me, but this Common Goldeneye is a nice looking bird anyway.

Here’s a long distance look at our Oldsquaw.

This light was improving as this Lesser Scaup took off.

Long Tailed Duck (Hen) in flight.

These Tundra Swans flew over while I was watching.

Common Goldeneye, the landing. This bird has been banded.

This was the scene when I arrived.

Common Goldeneye, silhouetted against the sunlit bay.

Low-light captures of birds in flight, like this Bufflehead, are tricky, but I’ll keep working on it.

There was a flock of Tundra Swans in the area, and three of them flew over the point.

The “Golden Eye” is clearly visible here.

This boat is heading into the bay from the Thomas Point Coast Guard Station.

These Common Loons stayed around for about an hour.

A little artistic license was taken.