Belted Kingfisher at Terrapin Nature Park

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Hugh

I started the day at Sandy Point, looking for some sunrise images and did OK.

Since I’ve had such good luck, I went back to Terrapin and CBEC this morning. Terrapin was disappointing, with few of the regular birds appearing, but the Kingfisher made up for it.

Snowy Egrets are still flocking to CBEC, and the Tricolors are hanging in there. In general, there were fewer birds than on previous days.

Sunrise at Sandy Point.

This Greater Yellowlegs seemed to be solo.

There were three Semipalmated Plovers on the shoreline at Lake Knapp.

These two Tri Colored Herons were foraging together.

This Snowy Egret flew overhead at Terrapin.

This Belted Kingfisher is a regular at Terrapin.

Tricolored Heron at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Hugh

I repeated Monday’s routine today, starting at Terrapin and moving on to CBEC. There were some good birds at Terrapin, but the light was lousy, with fog and clouds. CBEC was much better, almost cloudless and sunny.

Snowy Egrets continue in large numbers, and there were three Tricolored Herons as well as a few Sandpipers.

Some day I’ll learn some flower names.

I’ve seen a lot of Eastern Kingbirds recently, but most wouldn’t hold still long enough for a picture.

This Common Tern was fishing at CBEC.

I found this Forster’s Tern at Terrapin.

This might be a least Sandpiper.

The resident Muskrat put on a short show today.

Snowy Egrets were fedding in both locations.

There were 40 or more Snowy Egrets in residence.

Three Tricolored Herons were sunning themselves in the trees.

Dozens of rabbits were feeding along the paths.

Glossy Ibis at Terrapin Nature Park

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Hugh

If you stick with this hobby long enough, you’ll get to see some cool birds occasionally, and today was my day. The Ibis was a nice catch, but the Tri Colored Heron was still around, and a couple of Great Egrets made an appearance as well. All of this, and perfect light as well.

A couple of colorful butterflies rounded out a near perfect day.

You can’t go wrong with butterflies.

This Red Winged Blackbird flew right in front of me.

The Common Terns only fished for a short time today.

An ordinary Mallard becomes extraordinary in flight.

I’ve sen a lot of Ospreys, and this one posed nicely.

I was lucky to catch these Double Crested Cormorants as they flew quickly by.

I’ve only seen a few Semipalmated Plovers, and I confuse them with the Killdeer.

We don’t see many Tri Colored Herons here.

The wind is responsible for this Snowy Egret’s fluffy feathers.

Another nice pose, but from a Snowy Egret.

I was lucky to catch these Double Crested Cormorants as they flew quickly by.

Cornell: “A dark wading bird with a long, down-curved bill. Although the Glossy Ibis in North America lives primarily along the Atlantic Coast, it also can be found in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.”

Osprey at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Hugh

I flipped a coin this morning, and Governor Bridge won. This time of year feels like a crapshoot, as the birds can be hard to find.

There were a few birds around, but nothing really interesting, except a few calling from the trees who weren’t visible. I did find a juvenile Osprey at the lake, which is unusual.

The bugs are showing better, but still not in good numbers like last year.

This Frog was perched on a leaf, waiting for a bug to eat.

The mimosas are fading, and Ruby Throated Hummingbirds are harder to find.

Indigo Buntings almost always sing in the open.

You can usually count on a Common Yellowthroat in the big field.

I don’t often see Ospreys at the lake.

Today’s bugs.

Bald Eagle at Terrapin Nature Park

Posted on August 1, 2015 by Hugh

Graeme and I met early and got to Terrapin around dawn. The marsh pond was fairly active for a while, and when it slowed we drove to CBEC, about 5 miles away.

We saw about 30 Egrets roosting in trees, as well as the Tri Colored Heron and many sandpipers.

I couldn’t pass up this morning’s Blue Moon.

This Common Tern was fishing at Terrapin.

I saw more Snowy Egrets today than ever before.

The light was a little too harsh to get a good image of this Tri Colored Heron.

This Barn Swallow assumed the same pose as one I saw a few days ago.

This is only the second Semipalmated Plover I’ve seen.

We saw two Green Herons this morning.

This Bald Eagle flew over quickly, and I didn’t ID it until I looked at the image.

This is the first time I’ve seen a muskrat out of the water.

Purple Martin at Deale, MD

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Hugh

I had to work yesterday, but the customer lives in Deale, near the water, so we strolled around looking for birds before the work started. It was slow, but it will be a good place to visit again in the Fall.

I tried another new place today, Lake Kittamaqundi, in Columbia. There wasn’t much to see today, but it’s got potential.

This Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is one of the few butterflies I’ve seen recently.

I haven’t seen a Laughing Gull since early Spring.

The dark blue background makes this ordinary Tufted Titmouse look pretty good.

This Song Sparrow was at the lake.

Mallards were the only waterfowl we saw today.

I took at least 20 shots to get one acceptable Purple Martin.

Tri Colored Heron at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Hugh

I started at Terrapin Nature Park this morning, and it was unusually slow, so I moved on to CBEC after an hour or so, which has had some good birds recently. The rumors were true, with many wading birds, sandpipers and my very first Tri Colored Heron.

I was lucky to catch this Barn Swallow in such a nice pose.

Two Forster’s Terns were fishing in the marsh pond at Terrapin.

I have no idea what’s stuck on the beak of this Common Tern.

These Common Terns were also at Terrapin.

I think this is a Greater Yellowlegs.

I don’t often see a Brown Thrasher on the ground.

This Green Heron posed just right to show off his coloration.

A flock of 14 Snowy Egrets flew overhead.

Look closely to see the Tri Colored Heron mixed in with the Snowy Egrets.

I don’t recall seeing this many Snowy Egrets in one place.

This Tri Colored Heron is a first for me.

This very young deer watched me through the fence and never moved.

Great Blue Heron at Possum Point

Posted on July 26, 2015 by Hugh

It was another promising morning, and I managed to get some decent sunrise shots, but birds were very scarce. Graeme and I stopped at Possum Point, Greenbury Point and Jonas Green Park and saw very little worth photographing.

Bugs are still relatively scarce.

Not a great sunrise, but it will do.

This Double Crested Cormorant looks OK against the orange sky.

Goldfinches abound behind the Nature Center.

This Cardinal has caught a June Bug.

This Osprey was fishing at Possum Point.

I’m still a little surprised when I see a Great Blue Heron in a tree.

Green Heron at Wooton’s Landing

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Hugh

I met Graeme at Wooton this morning. I arrived early and found a few nice birds, then we wandered around a bit and located a few more, but it was a bit slow. A couple of butterflies helped us out.

We also stopped at Sands Road for a while, but it was slow as well. Very few insects were about.

This deer greeted me this morning.

We only got a quick look at this Yellow Billed Cuckoo.

This Prothonotary Warbler was deep in the woods and hard to photograph.

Several Snowy Egrets flew overhead.

This Blue Gray Gnatcatcher has found a nice spider for breakfast.

Green Herons seem to be doing well everywhere.

Today’s bugs.

Summer Tanager at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Hugh

Three days of perfect weather! I went back to Governor Bridge in hopes of more Hummingbird images, and a few of the regulars I haven”t seen yet. The Hummingbirds were very active, and the Tanager was a complete surprise as I’ve only seen a few, and never at Governor Bridge.

Although there was plenty of activity, I didn’t see any Grosbeaks or Scarlet Tanagers, though I know they are around.