Great Egret at Governor Bridge Natural Area

I had an appointment this morning, so I went bug hunting in the local park before, then to Governor Bridge afterwards. I missed the prime birding time, but I did well enough.
I didn’t have enough time for a thorough bug hunt, but I’ll make up for it tomorrow.

Indigo Bunting

This is a juvenile Indigo Bunting, the plainest of all birds.

Flycatcher

Flycatcher

Another unknown Flycatcher.

Great Egret

I think this is the first Great Egret I’ve seen at Governor Bridge.

Fly 65

Spider 156

Feather

I think this is a Blue Jay Feather.

Spider 156

Partridge Bug 1 (6)

Cricket 3

Cicada 104

Caterpillar 155

Assassin Bug 101

Insect 595

Fly 65

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Prothonotary Warbler at Governor Bridge Natural Area

I’m getting spoiled with this wonderful weather. I wanted to get another chance at the hummingbirds (Obsession?) so I went back to Governor Bridge this morning.
It was very active, maybe a precursor to migration. I found some good birds early, then tried for some more hummingbirds.
I abbreviated the bug hunt again due to heat and time, but I found a few anyway.

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

This Blue Gray Gnatcatcher found a nice caterpillar.

Red Eyed Vireo

I haven’t gotten a good look at a Red Eyed Vireo in a while.

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

This Indigo Bunting is molting his tail feathers.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

I think I did a little better with Ruby Throated Hummingbirds today.

 

Flycatcher

This could be one of several Flycatchers.

Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

This Prothonotary Warbler is another bid I haven’t seen in a while.

Spider 155

Butterfly 33

Caterpillar 151

Caterpillar 152

Caterpillar 153

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

White Ibis at Wooton’s Landing

Last Summer we had a series of 90 + degree days in July, but this year is much better. If I’m not getting all the birds I want, the weather’s not to blame.
I made a quick stop at Sands Road near dawn, but it was foggy and a waste of time.
It had nearly cleared by the time I got to Wooton, and it looked nearly perfect for birding. Alas, not much was happening, and I felt lucky to get what I did.
It had gotten fairly hot by the time I got around to the bugs, so I didn’t spend much time looking.

Little Blue Heron

Little Blue Herons are still hanging around.

Great Blue Heron

This Great Blue Heron may have been sleeping.

Catbird

Catbird

This Catbird posed well.

White Ibis

I nearly walked by this juvenile White Ibis.

Insect 592

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Cedar Waxwing at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Another gorgeous day, and another day of dithering about where to go. I decided on Governor Bridge because I wanted another chance at the hummingbirds.
I arrived about dawn, as usual, and did a complete loop of the lower area without finding much. Things picked up the second time around.
The hummingbirds weren’t as active as yesterday, but I found a few.
A shortened bug hunting trip was only mildly productive.

Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat

This Common Yellowthroat is probably a juvenile.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird 220

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

It’s difficult to get Ruby Throated Hummingbird in flight, but fun to try.

Indigo Bunting

This Indigo Bunting is probably a juvenile also.

Catbird

This Catbird was foraging in the big field.

Cedar Waxwing

A small flock of Cedar Waxwings was feeding in the area.

Wasp 57

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 42

Wasp 56

Beetle 95

Dragonfly 149

Cicada 103

Skipper 12

Ant 27

Robber Fly 10

Dragonfly 147

Dragonfly 148

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird at Governor Bridge Natural Area

The perfect weather continues, and I went back to Governor Bridge to see if I could get lucky again. I spent too much time on hummingbirds, but there wasn’t much else in the way of birds.
The bugs were limited as well.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

I found where the Ruby Throated Hummingbirds were feeding and spent a lot of time trying to get a decent shot.

Caterpillar 148

Caterpillar 149

Rose Chafer 7

Red Admiral 4

Lacewing 4

Praying Mantis 36

Fly 62

Moth 80

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Eastern Kingbird at Greenbury Point

Graeme and I did the Annapolis tour this morning, hitting Truxtun Park, Quiet Waters, Jonas Green Park and Greenbury Point. We probably overdid it a bit, but we found a few bugs and birds and I got to show him the local spots.
I spent the afternoon dealing with a computer crash, so I won’t finish this post ’til tomorrow.

Eastern Kingbird

This Eastern Kingbird and a companion were very active chasing flies.

Bee 56

Ant 26

Monarch Caterpillar 2

Dragonfly 200

Lacewing 4

Red Admiral 4

Wasp 54

Fly 62

Praying Mantis 36

Beetle 94

Wasp 21

Today's bugs

Today’s bugs

American Redstart at Governor Bridge Natural Area

This has been a good Summer, weather-wise, and today was no exception. I got to the park around dawn, and set out looking for birds right away. It’s the very beginning of Fall migration, and I was hoping to find some early birds.
I found a couple of good ones right off, and there was a lot of activity.
The bug hunting was also good, and I got a few good images.

Common Yellowthroat

This Common Yellowthroat was foraging in the big field.

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

This Scarlet Tanager is changing to his Fall colors.

Tufted Titmouse

This Tufted Titmouse was feeding with a flock of his friends.

Red Eyed Vireo 129

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireos will be leaving the area next month.

Flycatcher

I’m not sure which Flycatcher this is.

Orchard Oriole 106Orchard Oriole

Ruby Throated Hummingbird 211Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Great Blue Heron 197Great Blue Heron

Bee 58

Insect 589

Wasp 54

Insect 590

Bee 59

Ebony Jewelwing 2

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 41

Damsel Fly 30

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Green Heron at Wooton’s Landing

Hot and humid with bright sunshine. Ideal in some ways, but the light was very harsh, and the heat was nearly too much.
I made a quick stop at Sands Road to see what was happening (not much) then headed up the road to Wooton. It was surprisingly slow for such a nice day, and even the bugs seemed to be hiding from the heat.

Chipping Sparrow

You can almost always find a Chipping Sparrow on the road to the parking lot.

Cardinal

This Cardinal landed quite near me.

Green Heron

I’m not used to seeing Green Herons hidden in a tree like this.

Grasshopper 60

Insect 586

Insect 587

Butterfly 32

Dragonfly 146

Skipper 11

Moth 80

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Indigo Bunting at Governor Bridge Natural Area

I had an appointment this morning, so I got to Truxtun Park early, then went to Ft. Meade around 8:00. After the VA wasted my time on an unnecessary appointment, I stopped at Governor Bridge for a while, but it was too late to find many birds. The bugs were around in decent numbers, so I spent some time hunting.

Indigo Bunting

This Indigo Bunting showed up as I was leaving.

Spider 148

Spider 147

Ant 26

Dragonfly 145

Cicada 102

Bee 56

Insect 581

Ant 25

Caterpillar 145

Insect 582

Insect 583

Insect 584

Katydid Nymph 1

Bee 57

Caterpillar 146

Caterpillar 147

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.