A decent warbler at last! It’s been a very slow Fall migration for some reason. I didn’t find much else at Terrapin, so I went to CBEC after a couple of hours. It was much more active, but I didn’t see any additional migrants.
Great Blue Heron at Governor Bridge Natural Area
It’s been a bizarre and barren Fall migration so far. I’ve seen virtually no warblers so far, and even the bugs are scarce.
I went back to Governor Bridge this morning, and not a creature was stirring. One very tame Great Blue Heron let me get very close, but I didn’t get a decent look at any other birds.
I spent about an hour hunting bugs, but it was wet, and there wasn’t much to see.
Sunrise at Sandy Point
My cold is still lingering, and the birds seem to be avoiding me. I’ve actually gotten out several times, but most of the images were disappointing, and the heat and humidity made for short days.
Today I got a nice sunrise, then arrived at Terrapin just in time for a cloudburst that may have damaged my camera. I’m waiting to see if it dries out or has to be repaired.
American Redstart at Governor Bridge Natural Area
It’s been a tough week. My cold is still lingering, the heat and humidity are intense, and the birds seem to be avoiding me. Â If it was always like this I would have changed to landscapes a long time ago.
I did manage to find a few birds today, but other areas seem to be more productive than the places I’m choosing. It will be a better day tomorrow.
Baltimore Oriole at Governor Bridge Natural Area
I’m posting Saturday’s images on Monday because a sudden cold had me in bed nearly all day yesterday. I’m still not 100%, but much better.
I went to Governor Bridge b cause I’ve done well there in past migrations, but this just hasn’t been my year. Plenty of Orioles, but no other migrants that I saw.

Cornell: “It can be tricky to glimpse a Brown Thrasher in a tangled mass of shrubbery, and once you do you may wonder how such a boldly patterned, gangly bird could stay so hidden. Brown Thrashers wear a somewhat severe expression thanks to their heavy, slightly downcurved bill and staring yellow eyes, and they are the only thrasher species east of Texas. Brown Thrashers are exuberant singers, with one of the largest repertoires of any North American songbird.”
Field Sparrow at Sands Road Park
I tried to change my luck today with a visit to Wooton and Sands Road, but it wasn’t much better. I know some migrants are passing through, but I haven’t been in the right place yet.
The weather was perfect, cool with clear skies, but two hours at Wooton turned up very little, and Sands Road only had the usual suspects.
Orchard Oriole at Governor Bridge Natural Area
Today was an improvement over the last few, but still no great shakes. I did find a few warblers, but not in great numbers, and not in a mood to pose.
A lengthy insect hunt was almost fruitless, and, oddly, turned up no caterpillars at all.
Blue Grosbeak at Governor Bridge Natural Area
I went to the Eastern Shore yesterday, and struck out completely. A very unusual occurrence. In truth, today wasn’t a lot better. I found a few good birds, but they wouldn’t pose. I had to settle for the usual suspects.
I spent a little time looking for bugs, and found a nice spider.
Magnolia Warbler at Governor Bridge Natural Area
A migrant at last! GB was actually very active this morning, but it took a couple of hours to find the Magnolia Warbler, the only migrant. Catbirds were very numerous, and other birds were actively feeding as well.
I spent some time looking for bugs, but it’s still slow.
Bald Eagle at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center
Graeme and I went to Sandy Point early to catch the sunrise, then headed to Terrapin.
Terrapin remains slow, but we should be seeing migrants there soon.
We then headed to CBEC, which was better, but didn’t offer a lot of variety.































































