Indigo Bunting at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Hugh

More good weather today was very welcome. I’m getting too old for the prolonged heat and humidity of recent days. Reminds me of Vietnam.

I’m getting convinced the birds don’t care for it either. There was much more activity today, and I spent too much time with the Hummingbirds, as usual.

This Common Yellowthroat was the first bird I saw this morning.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird s are starting to gain weight for migration.

I haven’t gotten a decent image of a Blue Jay in a while.

Blue Gray Gnatcatchers often hover underneath leaves as they glean the insects from their surfaces.

Several Indigo Buntings were foraging in the big field.

Eastern Kingbird at Terrapin Nature Park

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Hugh

The heat and humidity have ended for a few days. Temps in the 70s and a slight breeze convinced me to try Terrapin this morning, and it worked out well. Lots of marine birds were around and I got a few good images.

I did well enough to skip the bugs today.

Many Ospreys were fishing in the area.

Common Terns were very active this morning.

I found these Double Crested Cormorants flying over the bay.

Several Wood Ducks flew over the pond.

This Great Blue Heron was fishing in the marsh pond.

I saw 15 or more Snowy Egrets this morning.

The Redwinged Blackbird strayed too close to the Eastern Kingbird’s nest.

Morning at Possum Point

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Hugh

I tried for some sunrise shots again, then went to Jonas Green Park, which was almost devoid of interesting birds.

I made a short video of Whitehall Bay and the Osprey nest.

Rocky Raccoon at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Hugh

When I looked outside at 4:00 it was already hot and sticky. I got to Governor Bridge around dawn and spotted a Red Fox scampering across the parking lot.

Birds were very scarce, even the Hummingbirds who are usually reliable at this time of year. I switched to bugs around 8:00, and Graeme and I searched the lake area without finding anything very special.

It’s rare for me to get a good look at a Raccoon in daylight.

These Damselflies are mating.

Today’s bugs.

Graeme Simpson, stopping to smell the flowers.

The Bug Hunter.

Scarlet Tanager at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Hugh

I got to Governor Bridge around dawn, and it was already very humid.

The birds weren’t as active as yesterday, but I managed to find a few even though the Hummingbirds weren’t as cooperative as yesterday.

I didn’t spend much time looking for bugs due to the oppressive weather.

This Brown Thrasher appears to be molting.

I was surprised at how close I got to this Downy Woodpecker.

Red Eyed Vireos are very visible recently.

Goldfinches continue to forage in the big field.

Blue Gray Gnatcatchers have become very active recently.

I often hear Red Bellied Woodpeckers, but I haven’t seen one in a while.

This bird was at such an odd angle I didn’t realize it was a Scarlet Tanager until I looked at it on screen.

I found this Moth while looking for Hummingbirds.

Sunrise at Possum Point

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Hugh

It was cloudy and threatening rain this morning, so I decided to try for a sunrise shot. Between the wind and slow moving clouds, there wasn’t much to see, but I got a half decent shot when the sun shone briefly.

A quick look for bugs didn’t find much, and i headed home when the rain started.

I used an interval timer to get myself in the shot.

Today’s bugs.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Hugh

It was another near perfect day, with low humidity and clear skies. Governor Bridge was still pretty active, and the Hummingbirds may be fueling up for migration. Other birds are more active than usual also.

Still slow on the bug front, but I did find a few.

This Carolina Wren was singing loudly.

There was condensation on the lens when I got this Green Heron shot.

This Great Blue Heron flew by early in the morning.

Indigo Buntings are regulars at Governor Bridge.

Goldfinches were feeding in the big field.

It’s clear how the male Ruby Throated Hummingbird gets his name.

Today’s bugs.

Red Eyed Vireo at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Hugh

Absolutely perfect birding weather. Temps in the low 70s, slightly cloudy and only a slight wind. The birds must have known it also, as there was a lot of activity this morning. I missed several good birds, but there was no shortage of good shots.

Oddly, the bugs were not at all active, maybe because of the relatively cool weather.

Governor Bridge, the path to to the boat launch.

The big field at Governor Bridge.

The Downy Woodpecker is another bird that often lets you get very close.

This Chickadee ignored me, as they often do.

I liked the color combination of the Red Winged Blackbird on the mimosa tree.

Several Blue Gray Gnatcatchers were feeding rapidly.

I saw more Eastern Phoebes today than I did all week.

This female Cardinal was foraging in the big field.

The female House Finch won the fight.

This Common Yellowthroat popped up right in front of me.

A flock of Goldfinches was flitting around the big field.

This juvenile Baltimore Oriole was in the big field.

Ruby Throated Hummingbird s were very active.

Red Eyed Vireos were very active also. They may have been juveniles.

This Red Eyed Vireo was not happy to be displaced from his perch.

Purple Martin at Possum Point

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Hugh

The promised rainy/cloudy weather didn’t appear, and we had a gorgeous morning.

I started at Possum Point in search of the perfect sunrise, which I’m still seeking, then went on to Greenbury Point where the pickings were pretty good. Birds and bugs were in a good mood for a change, and I got a few decent shots.

Sunrise at Possum Point.

I’m not sure who lost this down feather.

Goldfinches hang around in small flocks all year.

Indigo Buntings seem to a bit more scarce this year.

Greenbury Point continues to be a great place to find the Yellow Breasted Chat.

This Purple Martin wasn’t easy to capture. They are fast moving, erratic flying birds.

Today’s bugs.

Hooded Merganser at Wooton’s Landing

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Hugh

Another gloomy morning, but I went to Wooton anyway. I wanted to try some landscapes, which I did, but the Sun never did show through the clouds.

Green Herons must have fledged, because there were 5 or more noisy birds in the tree, just like at Terrapin yesterday. The juvenile mergansers were in the river pond, and a real surprise.

Graeme and I went to Sands Road, also, but it was getting hot and sticky by that time, so we didn’t stay long.