Common Tern at Terrapin Nature Park

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Hugh

Clear skies this morning convinced me to try Terrapin. It was a good choice. Terns, Herons, Swallows and Muskrats were out in numbers.

Bugs are still scarce, but I didn’t spend a lot of time looking.

The southern marsh pond. Taken with my cell phone.

I’m not sure what bird lost this feather.

I don’t often get this close to a muskrat.

I just barely caught this Belted Kingfisher as he flew across the marsh.

Green Herons have been abundant at Terrapin recently.

Red Winged Blackbirds were very active today.

Wood Ducks were very abundant this Spring.

Common Terns were fishing in both marsh ponds.

Today’s bugs.

Osprey at Possum Point

Posted on July 12, 2015 by Hugh

A very nice morning, for a change. I started at Possum Point for some sunrise shots, and found a nice Osprey family as well as a couple of butterflies.

I also stopped at Quiet Waters to look for bugs, but it’s not nearly as productive as last year.

Sunrise at Possum Point.

This is almost certainly an Osprey family. The bird on the right is newly fledged.

Goldfinches like to forage at Greenbury point.

I’m not seeing as many Great Blue Herons as usual.

Quiet Waters has a lot of Skinks.

I usually pass up rabbits but this one was a cutie.

Today’s bugs.

Red Eyed Vireo at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Hugh

Rain was predicted, but when the skies cleared and no rain was in sight I went to Governor Bridge. It was reasonably active for a while, and I ran into Graeme, so we went bug hunting.

There are more bugs than a week ago, but it’s still a bit early for some of them.

There were many young Canada Geese in the lake.

I usually see Common Yellowthroats near the ground, but this one was high in a tree.

Ruby Throated Hummingbirds seem to be more active now.

This is a typical Downy Woodpecker pose.

I’ve seen White Breasted Nuthatches lie on a branch like this before, but I don’t know the reason.

Two Red Eyed Vireos were playing tag in the canopy.

Today’s bugs.

Northern Parula at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Hugh

There was a good report from Governor Bridge yesterday, so I gave it a try. I didn’t see any of the reported birds, but I did OK.

Insects and butterflies are getting easier to find.

These Canada Goose gosling were with a larger group.

Downy Woodpeckers will often let you get very close.

I saw two flocks of Goldfinches today.

I hear White Eyed Vireos often but they can be hard to photograph.

This Robin was singing near the big lake.

Chickadees can be found year round.

A pair of Northern Parulas appears to be nesting near the parking lot.

Today’s bugs.

Heat, Humidity and Bugs at Truxtun Park

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Hugh

I got a late start today, so I stayed close to home. Even at 7:30 the humidity was very high, and I didn’t last long.

No birds were in evidence, but there were a few bugs were around and they saved an otherwise unproductive morning.

Today’s bugs.

Green Heron at Wooton’s Landing

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Hugh

Another foggy, cloudy morning in the marsh. The fog lifted after an hour or so, and some birds came put, but photo opportunities were limited.

Bugs were in short supply also.

I’m including a few shots of a friend’s garden I took yesterday.

This Belted Kingfisher was very active.

This Wood Duck may be molting, and unable to fly.

I heard this Green Heron several times before I found him.

Today’s bugs.

Annapolis Flowers.

Yellow Billed Cuckoo at Greenbury Point

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Hugh

I made another try for Possum Point sunrises this morning, but it was a blah show this morning. A few Ospreys were around, but not much variety.

I found a few birds and bugs around the nursery center, but it was a slow day overall.

Possum Point at Dawn.

This Great Crested Flycatcher posed for quite a while.

The Osprey chick is doing well.

This Yellow Billed Cuckoo showed up as I was leaving.

Today’s bugs.

Eastern Phoebe at Sands Road Park

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Hugh

It was cloudy and misty this morning, but I gave Wooton’s Landing a try anyway. There were a few birds around, but nothing exciting, and the light was poor.

I made a stop at Sands Road on the way home, and it wasn’t any better.

Even the bugs were scarce this morning.

Sunrise in the marsh.

Wooton is a prime pace to find Common Yellowthroats.

This Brown Thrasher sang from the same spot for several minutes.

This Great Blue Heron was fishing in the marsh pond.

Eastern Phoebes have been scarce this season.

Today’s bugs.

Common Yellowthroat at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Hugh

I tried Governor Bridge this morning because I did well there this time last year. This year wasn’t as good. Very few birds were about, and even the bugs were scarce. Last night’s storm was probably to blame.

Sunrise at Governor Bridge.

This Common Yellowthroat was the only decent bird image I got.

Today’s bugs. This spider is new to me.

Northern Rough Winged Swallow At Terrapin Nature Park

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Hugh

I’m dealing with a minor domestic crisis, so I only got out out for a short while yesterday. Today I tried some more sunrise images, but it was a dull sunrise indeed. Afterward, I went to Terrapin Nature Park, which was also very slow.

I did manage to find a few insects.