Dark Eyed Junco at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Hugh

Sunrise was hardly worth recording this morning. Kind of a bland sky and dull clouds.

Terrapin wasn’t as good as yesterday, but I did get a couple of first of season birds.

Song Sparrows and others are on the move.

FOS White Throated Sparrow.

This Palm Warbler posed very nicely.

This is a young Robin.

FOS Field Sparrow.

A large flock of Goldfinches was feeding in the meadow.

There’s still plenty of Ruby Crowned Kinglets.

I saw more than 40 Northern Flickers today.

There are hundreds of Double Crested Cormorants at Sandy Point.

This Great Blue Heron flew by just before dawn.

FOS Dark Eyed Junco.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Hugh

It was the coolest morning of the season so far. Very windy as well. I wore a light jacket, and was wondering about gloves by the time the sun came up.

Terrapin was very active, with lots of new migrants including kinglets, sparrows and warblers. Several eagles flew over and a couple of egrets are still around as well. The Fall season has begun!

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Eastern Phoebes are still around in big numbers.

Palm Warblers usually migrate earlier than this.

My first Song Sparrow in quite a while.

I was a little surprised to see two Great Egrets still hanging around.

Many Northern Flickers were on the move.

This Catbird may be a little late to migrate.

I saw dozens of Yellow Rumped Warblers.

This Black Throated Green Warbler was a nice surprise.

Ruby Crowned Kinglets were also prolific.

Black Ducks at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Hugh

It was cloudy again this morning, which led to a rather bland sunrise. Still not much bird variety at Sandy Point.

Terrapin actually had a lot of activity, including first of season Black Ducks. Ospreys were very busy, and a couple of Bald Eagles were trying to steal their catch. Not very many small birds yet.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

This Common Yellowthroat Warbler popped up right in front of me.

This Crow flew by close enough to try for a portrait.

Yet another immature Bald Eagle.

Many more Mallards than usual were in the marsh ponds.

Cardinals are easy to find at Terrapin.

Eastern Phoebes were everywhere.

Flickers seem to like Terrapin in the winter.

I found this Blue Jay yesterday at Terrapin.

Great Egrets will be heading South soon.

This Osprey flew right at me.

I haven’t seen Black Ducks since last year.

American Robin at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Hugh

It was nice to get out after three days of rain and gloom. There was no sunrise at Sandy Point-just clouds from sky to horizon.

Terrapin was cloudy and dark for a while as well, but cleared up after a few hours. There were quite a few birds around, but the lighting was poor for most of them. A couple of butterflies relieved the gloom, including one I found at the library on the way home.

This Great Egret flew in while I was waiting.

This Green Heron is a little late.

I’ve seen several immature Bald Eagles at Terrapin.

Eastern Phoebe seem to be passing through in numbers.

I found this Great Blue Heron yesterday at Quiet Waters.

This Fritillary was feeding in front of the library.

I’m still finding Monarchs.

This grasshopper sat very still while I took several pictures.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Muskrat.

Great Egret at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Hugh

There was a decent sunrise this morning, but not much in the way of birds at Sandy Point.

Terrapin didn’t have much to offer in the way of warblers, but a few larger birds posed for a while.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

A lone Snowy Egret was fishing in the bay.

This Great Blue Heron was fishing in the bay.

Ospreys were very active today.

A single Great Egret was fishing in the marsh pond.

Blue Jay at Buddy Attick Lake.

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Hugh

I met Graeme early near his new apartment in Greenbelt, and we explored the woods and meadows in the area before circling Buddy Attick.

We found a good run of warblers, then some Wood Ducks and a Green Heron before doing some more exploring in some very promising areas near the lake.

I’m sure we’ll try it again one day.

This Downy Woodpecker was the first bird we saw.

I couldn’t pass up this Cardinal who posed so well.

This Green Heron didn’t move for several minutes.

A small flock of Mallards was feeding near shore.

We saw a lot of Magnolia Warblers this morning.

We saw two Eastern Phoebes.

American Redstarts were present in good numbers.

This Blue Gray Gnatcatcher is staying a bit late.

A pair of Wood Ducks flew in while we were waiting for some action.

We found this Blue Jay in the parking lot.

Bald Eagle at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on September 24, 2016 by Hugh

Sandy Point offered a rather bland sunrise again, but a couple of birds helped out.

Terrapin was unusually slow, under cloudy skies. I was able to watch a young Eagle fishing, but he was too far off for really good images.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

Double Crested Cormorants are very numerous at Sandy Point.

This Great Blue Heron gave me a nice silhouette.

Canada Geese are becoming more common.

This immature Bald Eagle caught a very small fish.

Tufted Titmouse at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Hugh

Another so-so sunrise and not many birds at Sandy Point. Still, the pre-dawn calm is worth the trip.

Terrapin didn’t have much to offer this morning, but a Titmouse and an Eagle showed off for me.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

This Crow flew right at me.

I saw several Eastern Phoebes today.

Great Blue Herons have been scarce at Terrapin this year.

This could be the same immature Bald Eagle I saw yesterday.

Red Winged Blackbirds often perch on the tree.

Three Ospreys were fishing in the marsh ponds.

Juvenile Indigo Buntings may the most non-descript of all birds.

This Tufted Titmouse was showing off.

This is a Sulfur Butterfly.

My favorite Bullfrog was cooperative today.

Bald Eagle at Terrapin Nature Park.

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Hugh

We’ve had lousy weather for a couple of days, so It was nice to get out this morning. Sunrise wasn’t much to look at, and, in fact, I didn’t see it rise at all. I got some nice color about a half hour before, though.

Terrapin didn’t give up any interesting warblers, and only a few Egrets and an Eagle made the trip worthwhile at all.

Sandy Point at dawn.

These Snowy Egrets were fishing in front of the blind.

This young Bald Eagle may have been checking out an Egret breakfast.

Great Blue Heron at Sandy Point State Park.

Posted on September 18, 2016 by Hugh

It’s been pretty slow the last couple of days. Cloudy skies and cool, humid days are an improvement, but even yesterday’s cold front didn’t improve the bird scene, and I didn’t see enough to justify a post.

Today wasn’t any better-no warblers and only a few other birds. Even the insects were laying low.