The colors were so nice that I stopped to take this image from the field near the marsh ponds.

Catbirds have been very active in the park all week.

Mockingbirds are in every corner of the park.

The Baltimore Oriole is actually in the Icterid (Blackbird) family. This female is probably heading to Mexico or Central America for the winter.

There’s a walkway between the two marsh ponds at Terrapin, and I disturb this Green Heron every time I pass though. I feel mildly sorry for him, but it makes him easy to find.

This lone Osprey treated me to a fishing exhibition. Most of his brothers have headed South.

This Red Bellied Woodpecker was one of many birds in a small area of the park where I took pictures for about an hour.

Large numbers of Blue Jays continued to pass over the park.

A small flock of Cedar Waxwings was flycatchiing in the treetops.

This Northern Flicker is giving is a good look at the patterns and colors on his back.

This is only the second Tennessee Warbler I’ve seen.

I saw several Red Eyed Vireos foraging in the brush.

Male and female Cardinals were present in abundance.

This Rose Breasted Grosbeak appears to be a non breeding adult male.

I’m calling this an Empid Flycatcher until I get a better name.

Occasionally I get surprised when I upload images from the camera, and that’s the case with this bird, which appeared to be an oriole when I saw it. Lo and behold, it’s a non breeding Scarlet Tanager.

These female Wood Ducks were a little too far away, but it’s a sign the ducks are coming, and I’m looking forward to it.

The Blue Gray Gnatcatcher is a Neotropical migrant, and will be headed to Mexico or the Bahamas soon.

I don’t see these handsome birds often.

The marsh pond has been a consistent site for Green Herons.

I was lucky to get this House Wren, who only appeared briefly.

I saw very few warblers today, so I was glad this Magnolia Warbler posed briefly.

I was chatting with the gate keeper, who brings his dog for a walk every day when he opens the gate, and the dog bounded out the brush with this Deer Skull.

Hundreds of Blue Jays flew overhead today, heading South. I had no ide of this phenomenon.
From Allaboutbirds.org:
“Cool Facts
Thousands of Blue Jays migrate in flocks along the Great Lakes and Atlantic coasts, but much about their migration remains a mystery. Some are present throughout winter in all parts of their range. Young jays may be more likely to migrate than adults, but many adults also migrate. Some individual jays migrate south one year, stay north the next winter, and then migrate south again the next year. No one has worked out why they migrate when they do. “

I haven’t identified this butterfly yet.

I’m calling this a Song Sparrow for now.

This Song Sparrow was quite fearless.

A 1.5 mile walk in the woods produced only this frog.

This Black Throated Blue Warbler was the first bird I saw this morning. I have taken several photos previously, but none as good as this one.

My best guess is Blackpoll Warbler , but I’m checking. My guru says it’s a Cape May Warbler.

This Orchard Oriole’s breast area was overexposed, so I’ve added some yellow to tone it down a bit.

There were Catbirds in every corner of the park.

Warblers can be difficult to capture as they flit quickly form branch to branch, but this Common Yellowthroat was a willing subject.

I saw several Brown Thrashers today.

Magnolia Warblers were abundant also.

The rabbits at Terrapin seem very tame.

I think this is the first Yellow Warbler I’ve seen at Terrapin.

I’m calling this a Black Throated Green Warbler until corrected.

I don’t yet know what this is. Now I’m thinking Chestnut Sided Warbler.

Here’s a different look at this little guy showing the Chestnut colored stripe.

Terrapin is the only place I’ve seen Veerys.

I’m used to seeing Snowy Egrets in the water, so they look weird perched in a tree.

There were several Eastern Phoebes flycatching in this thicket.

The Northern Flicker is a beautiful bird.

This is a first winter female Blackpoll Warbler, and it’s the first I’ve ever seen.
From Allaboutbirds.org”:
“Cool Facts
The song of the male Blackpoll Warbler is one of the highest-pitched of all birds.
Part of the fall migratory route of the Blackpoll Warbler is over the Atlantic Ocean from the northeastern United States to Puerto Rico, the Lesser Antilles, or northern South America. This route averages 3,000 km (1,864 mi) over water, requiring a potentially nonstop flight of up to 88 hours. To accomplish this flight, the Blackpoll Warbler nearly doubles its body mass and takes advantage of a shift in prevailing wind direction to direct it to its destination.”

A small flock of Cedar Waxwings was hanging out.

The adult Cedar Waxwing (Top) was occasionally feeding the juvenile.

Not a great shot, but I’m posting this Blue Headed Vireo for bragging rights.

There are many Black Vultures at Terrapin, and I usually pass them by, but this guy was overlooking all the area.

I’m working on an ID.

This Brown Thrasher was well hidden.

Now that the Ospreys have left, this Great Blue Heron has occupied their nesting platform as a resting spot.

I’ve seen Turkey Vultures in this tree before, but it, too, is usually occupied by Ospreys.

This piling at the tip of the point is almost always occupied by a seabird like this Ring Billed Gull.

As I headed up the hill from the point, I heard a loud racket from several Crows, and it quickly became apparent they were mobbing this Cooper’s Hawk, lower left in the dead tree.

After taking some distant shots, I crept closer to get a better look. I may not have succeeded had the hawk not been so pre-occupied with the Crows.

When I’ve seen hawks mobbed in the past, they have usually been quickly driven off, but this guy elected to attack the Crows. Here, he is heading up to do battle.

The Crow recognized the threat, and quickly took off, but not for long.

As the Crow left, the hawk banked to return to his perch.

The Crows quickly returned and continued their harassment.

The hawk attacked once more.

He returned to the tree, and here he’s scanning for the Crow’s return.

He finally gives me a relatively unobstructed look.

The Crows don’t give up easily.

A good look from the front.

The Crows returned and he attacked once more.

The Crows don’t give up easily.

Even though they’re of a similar size, the Hawk has no fear of the Crow.

The battle continues.

The Hawk is running out of patience.

Close call!

The Crows are as determined as the Hawk.

I was amazed the battle had continued this long. (8 minutes by this time).

Finally, he’s driven off to a nearby tree.

This appears to be a Great Crested Flycatcher.

He’s small and far away, but he appears to be an Eastern Phoebe.

A closer look at our Eastern Phoebe.

A look at the Bay-Bridge from Possum Point.

I’ve been taking bird pictures for about a year, and this is the first Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) I’ve been in a position to photograph. In fact, I nearly stepped on him.

This Blue Grosbeak will be migrating soon.

I need a remote branch clipper for birds that pose like this Palm Warbler.

Mockingbirds may be the bird I see most often.

A very handsome bird. Here’s the Wikipedia entry:
“Adults have a brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with two black bands. The rump is tawny orange. The face and cap are brown with a white forehead. They have an orange-red eyering. The chicks are patterned almost identically to the adults, and are precocial — able to move around immediately after hatching. The Killdeer frequently uses a “broken wing act” to distract predators from the nest. It is named onomatopoeically after its cry

This Western Palm Warbler was hanging out near one of the ponds.

This appears to be a juvenile Eastern Phoebe, a first for me.

This Northern Flicker posed patiently.

This may be a Bay Breasted Warbler.

I’m calling this an Eastern Wood Peewee.

This Magnolia Warbler was one of many warblers we saw in the swampy area at the base of Mount Everest. I was unable to capture most of them as they were very fast and often deep in the trees.

I’ve seen several Black and White Warblers. but this is my best photo of one by far.

I couldn’t get this American Redstart in focus, but I like this bird so I’m posting it anyway.

Annapolis Junction has a lot of open area, ideal for Hawks like this Red Shouldered Hawk.

There are still plenty of Bluebirds at Patuxent.

Yesterday I thought this duck might be a Bufflehead, but this closer look suggests it’s a Common Goldeneye.

I have a lot of pictures of the Great Blue Heron in flight, but this may be the only one with an open bill.

It’s difficult to get a good shot of a white bird like this Snowy Egret in bright sunlight.

This Great Blue Heron flew over the group.

This distant bird is a Rose Breasted Grosbeak.

I thought this Goldfinch was a warbler when I first saw him.

This Brown Thrasher has found a great dining spot.

The Merlins were reported to be on the wires in this picture, and they were. This image, though, only shows part of the large contingent of Mourning Doves and a gorgeous sunrise.

Several flocks of Canada Geese flew over while I was there.

I explored a stand of trees in the field and found this very nice Magnolia Warbler.

This Sparrow seems to be missing its tail.

I don’t know what this is, but I’m working on it.

Yet another unknown. The morning light is probably distorting the colors.

Carolina Wrens often sing loudly in the open, and pose willingly.

I spent some time trying to get closer to this Merlin, but there was very little cover and he was skittish.

This could be a juvenile Sharp-Shinned Hawk.

I didn’t realize this was a House Wren until I uploaded it to my computer.

This Green Heron was very active, and stayed in the area quite a while

I’ve seen lots of Chipping Sparrows, but I can’t pass up a bird so willing to pose.

This Common Yellwothroat is probably a first winter male.

This appears to be a Greater Yellowlegs.

A pair of Ruddy Ducks were diving amidst a large flock of Canada Geese.

It’s always a thrill to see a Bald Eagle fly over.

This young deer was foraging near the pond.

I believe this is an immature Bald Eagle. I almost skipped him, as he was flapping a lot, and I thought he was a Crow, then he started soaring.

Birding was so slow I watched this Para Glider for a while.

I have yet to see a day so slow that a Mockingbird won’t pose.

I saw feeding Catbirds virtually everywhere in the park.

I’ve seen a lot of Red Eyed Vireos lately.

I saw dozens of migrating Monarch Butterflies.

I took a quick trip to Truxtun Park this afternoon, where there were many active woodpeckers, including this Red Bellied Woodpecker.

This Brown Thrasher was one of several noisily feeding in the area.

I couldn’t coax this adult male Magnolia Warbler any closer.

This a non-breeding adult male Magnolia Warbler.

The white eye ring makes me think this is a Bay Breasted Warbler.

When you chase small birds in the woods, you’re going to find an occasional Chickadee.

I had heard that the Red Breasted Nuthatch was in the area, and I feel lucky to have found one.

This could be the same Rose Breasted Grosbeak I saw yesterday.

This Catbird will be heading South soon.

I often pass up common birds like this Blue Jay, but I love the colors.