Yellow Billed Cuckoo in the Heat

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Hugh

I had to work this morning, so I didn’t get to the Nature Center until noon, and it was disappointing. Temps were close to 90 with high humidity and a slight breeze. I can usually count on seeing many birds, but they were all holed up in the shade, and I got only a few shots.
Note to self:No birding at noon on hot days.

I’ve always seen large flocks of Starlings at Greenbury Point, and now I know where they hang out: in the support beams of the large radio towers.

This Great Crested Flycatcher was one of the few birds out in the heat.

I noticed a newly created path at the Nature Center last week, but hadn’t taken the time to investigate it until today. I had pretty much given up on the day, so this Yellow Billed Cuckoo was a very nice surprise.

This female Indigo Bunting was eating rapidly.

Kingbirds and Grosbeaks

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Hugh

Another perfect weather day, so I went to Possum Point and got a few seabirds, then on to the Nature Center where there was a lot of activity, and one apparent Warbler I haven’t looked at yet. This afternoon I stopped at Truxtun Park and found a few birds.

This Fox was by the roadside and ignored me in my truck. I got a few shots, but the light was poor and I was too dumb to try a lower shutter speed or use the flash.

Several flocks of Double Crested Cormorants flew overhead.

I was lucky to capture this Great Blue Heron in flight.

I often see seabirds like this Double Crested Cormorant sitting on this piling.

This Downy Woodpecker was on the peninsula at Possum Point, and I seldom see small birds there.

There’s a large dead tree on Possum Point that is a favorite perch for Ospreys.

This Osprey has had a successful hunt.

This Chipping Sparrow let me get quite close and seemed indifferent to my presence.

I don’t see many Yellow Billed Cuckoos, and when I do they are often obscured like this one.

This Great Crested Flycatcher was eating cherries.

I went several weeks without seeing a Downy Woodpecker and now I’m inundated.

Blue Gray Gnatcatchers were plentiful and active.

I saw more Eastern Kingbirds than usual, and they seemed to be forming flocks.

I didn’t know this was a Blue Grosbeak until I uploaded it to my computer.

It takes a little luck to get a pair of birds like these Indigo Buntings.

These Goldfinches seemed to be foraging for gravel.

I thought I’d found a warbler, but I believe this is a Red Eyed Vireo.

This Great Blue Heron was fishing at Truxtun Park.

It’s been a while since I posted a Cardinal.

This is one ratty looking Carolina Wren .

This Titmouse was part of a very noisy mixed flock of Chickadees and Titmice.

Red Bellied Woodpeckers have been in short supply lately also.

Foaling Season

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Hugh

I returned to Terrapin Nature Park this morning in hopes of repeating yesterday’s success, but it wasn’t to be. The weather was warmer and clearer, but the bird gods were not on my side.

Yet another young deer, so my guess at foaling season must be right. I’ve now seen these in three different places.

I saw several Great Crested Flycatchers feeding in the marsh.

Red Winged Blackbirds are still present in large numbers, and can be heard constantly singing in the marsh.

This young Red Winged Blackbird appears to be getting his red epaulets.

It’s always fun to watch Chickadees feeding.

Turkey Vultures often get a negative reaction, but they are an essential part of the ecology.

This Dragonfly is new to me.

I tried to get closer to this Blue Grosbeak, but he flew away as I approached.

I was amused to see all three of these Turkey Vultures drying their wings in unison.

The female Red Bellied Woodpecker isn’t as gaudy as her red headed mate.

Downy Woodpeckers seemed to be more common in the Spring.

Osprey and Green Herons

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Hugh

The grapevine said there are Warblers at Terrapin Nature Park, so I crossed the bridge early in hopes of finding a few. I met some birders who saw a Chestnut Sided, but the best I could do was a Yellow. I did manage to get some other good shots, though.

This Green Heron was overlooking the marsh, and allowed me to get quite close. He flew off with a series of loud squawks. I saw him several more times at the marsh.

The Ospreys were very active, and several were fishing the marsh pond.

I was lucky to spot this Ruby Throated Hummingbird .

This Chickadee was foraging in the marsh grass.

I believe this is a first year Forster’s Tern. There were many fishing in the marsh pond.

The colors on this Carolina Wren seemed unusually bright.

Some of the rabbits at Terrapin Park seem unusually tame.

This appears to be a female Blue Grosbeak.

It’s amazing to watch these birds dive headlong into the water. This one missed his fish.

There were hundreds of butterflies around, including many of these Spicebush Swallowtails.

The Orchard Oriole is often a willing subject.

I haven’t seen many Yellow Billed Cuckoos out in the open like this.

A Slow Birding Day

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Hugh

Virtually a wasted day. I walked the entire perimeter of Sandy Point State Park and saw virtually no small birds. Seabird numbers seemed low also.
Later, I stopped at Truxtun Park and Hillsmere Elementary with the same result. I don’t know the reason for such days.

Yet another very young deer. I don’t know anything about deer, but this seems to be the foaling season.

This Osprey was at Truxtun Park. In the many hours I’ve spent at Truxtun, I’ve never seen an Osprey perch here before.

A Pair of Young Ospreys

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Hugh

A very nice day for a change. Somewhat overcast, in the 70’s with low humidity.
I went back to Possum Point in search of migrants, but no luck so far.

This Eastern Kingbird was shot in low light. f6.3 1/500 ISO 1600
It’s well focused, but grainy, and is a consequence of a relatively slow lens.

This is the youngest/smallest deer I’ve seen anywhere I’ve been.There were two about this size.

The Caspian Tern is so sleek he reminds me of a jet fighter.

Another try for a decent Chesapeake Bay Bridge shot

The feathers on these Ospreys appear to be very new. They may be young of the year.

Downys were scarce for a while, and now I’ve seen them two days in a row.

There were four Indigo Buntings feeding from this plant. I have consistently found these birds in this spot for weeks.

I’ve seen many Catbirds lately and they seem to be feeding a lot, possibly in preparation for migration.

The distinctive call of the Eastern Wood Peewee makes them easy to find, but they are harder to photograph.

Indigo Buntings and Orioles

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Hugh

I was off early to Possum Point despite the threatening weather. As it turned out, the day was sunny and relatively mild. As usual, I went to the point first, circled around to the boat ramp, then decamped to the Nature Center.

I was lucky to capture these Ospreys flying in tandem.

This Great Blue Heron was overseeing the boat ramp.

I almost always see these Eastern Kingbirds at the top of a plant, where they look for insects to catch.

This Great Crested Flycatcher was resting between meals.

Earlier this year I saw Downy Woodpeckers almost every time I went out, but they’ve been scarce lately.

This appears to be a young House Finch.

There are many Bluebird boxes at the Nature Center, and they’ve helped produce a bumper crop.

I found this Blue Grosbeak female in almost the same spot as a month ago.

I see female Orchard Orioles frequently, but the males are much rarer.

The Chipping Sparrow is a cheery bird.

A Good Day at Possum Point

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Hugh

A cooler day, slightly cloudy but promising. I headed off early to Possum Point and the Nature Center, with a later stop at Truxtun Park and Hillsmere Elementary. Possum Point was very productive.

Double Crested Cormorants are still present and very active.

Caspian Terns are frequent visitors. They are both graceful and beautiful.

This Ring Billed Gull flew right over my head.

This Common Wood Nymph is the first I’ve seen.

The Ospreys will be migrating soon, and I won’t be able to get more images.

The sailboats in the marina provide perches for many birds, including this Belted Kingfisher.

This juvenile Green Heron was the highlight of my day. It’s only the second one I’ve seen this year.

Several Chipping Sparrows were very actively feeding.

I was lucky to get this female Orchard Oriole who only stayed around for a few seconds.

I haven’t seen a Yellow Breasted Chat for several weeks.

You can often get quite close to a Chickadee when they are feeding.

Red Admiral at Sandy Point

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Hugh

I arrived at Sandy Point State Park just as they opened at 7:00 AM. I searched, mostly in vain, for birds for the next two hours. Even the usual decent points were almost totally devoid of birds. That’s the way it goes some days.

I haven’t seen many of these Red Admiral butterflies.

I was greeted by 6-8 deer, grazing peacefully.

Sandy Point is home to a large colony of Black Vultures.

This first year Baltimore Oriole was a nice find. It’s only my second of the year.

This juvenile Great Blue Heron was fishing right on the beach.

Every Mockingbird in the state was at Sandy Point today.

I almost always see the Great Blue Heron fishing in shallow water, so it strikes me as odd to see them perched in a tree.

I’m still a big fan of the Great Crested Flycatcher.

There were many Western Tiger Swallowtails feeding on these bushes.

Two Catbirds were feeding rapidly, and I assume they are fueling up for migration.

The Blue Gray Gnatcatcher seldom stays still for long.

Invisible Heron

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Hugh

The day looked promising, much cooler and slightly cloudy, and I arrived early at Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, South tract. There was a lot of activity among the small birds, and I saw a distant hawk and a Blue Heron, but no other waterbirds. I met Graeme, and we went to Lake Artimesia, which, again, had a dearth of waterbirds excepting an Egret, a Heron and some ducks. Later, we stopped at Greenbelt Park to look for a Barred Owl Graeme knew about, but he didn’t appear and no other birds were evident, so we didn’t stay long.
All in all, it was a strange day and birds were relatively scarce.