More waterfowl. Another wood duck. In this case an adult male actually in the water rather than perched in a tree.
2021-06-05 NIH pond, Bethesda, MD [DSC08681]
2021-06-18 Cedar Is, Potomac, MD [DSC00055]
Some confused wood ducks who think they are perching birds. Kids have got to try new things I guess. [Update: they are called wood ducks because they nest in trees, not because they are made of wood! So it is me that was confused.]
2021-07-29 C&O Canal, Potomac, MD [DSC06520]
An indigo bunting hanging out in the noonday sun looking festive. Origin of the name bunting is unknown, but bunt means colourful in German.
2021-07-29 Glendening Nature Preserve, Lothian, MD [DSC06520]
A bit of sibling rivalry going on amongst these three, who are looking far too large to still be in the nest.
2021-07-24 Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA [DSC05974]
Tyrannus tyrannus, king of the tyrant flycatchers. I'm not sure why it's called the kingbird; perhaps it's because it has a hidden crown.
2021-07-24 Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA [DSC06089]
We found this guy because a group of wrens were all atwitter in the woods. A quote from the bard is apropos (Macbeth, iv.2).
Lady MacDuff: ... for the poor wren, the most diminutive of birds, will fight, her young ones in her nest, against the owl.
2021-07-24 Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA [DSC05994]
Thanks, Jean!
2021-07-24 Bethesda, MD [_DSC06151]
A crow out for a stroll on a cool spring morning.
2021-04-04 NIH field, Bethesda, MD [DSC00126]
A juvenile bluebird high up in a tree.
2021-07-18 McKee-Beshers WMA, Poolesville, MD [DSC05506]
On the theme of little yellow birds, here's a goldfinch from our walk the other day.
2021-07-18 McKee-Beshers WMA, Poolesville, MD [DSC05539]
From the marsh this Sunday, the Prothonotary warbler (Protonotoria citrea) is so named because byzantine bureaucrats called prothonotaries (first scribes) wore yellow cloaks.
2021-07-18 McKee-Beshers WMA, Poolesville, MD [DSC05380]
Goose Tai Chi: a lovely activity for a Sunday morning. This one went through a series of slow stretches and balancing activities exercising all its limbs.
2021-07-18 McKee-Beshers WMA, Poolesville, MD [DSC05335]
This is a big mouthful of insects. I'm not sure what is going on. Purple martins swoop over the water at high speed to catch insects and bring them back home to their brood. The question is how did he get such a mouthful? It's hard to imagine catching one insect, let alone a whole mouthful. And why is he just sitting on the corner of the nest box when there are hungry mouths to feed? Maybe he is just taking out the trash?
2021-07-04 NIH pond, Bethesda, MD [DSC03170]
We went out to the lake this spring on a hike, and this red-tailed hawk flew overhead. I like how the light comes through the wings.
2021-04-04 Pig Tail Recreation Area, Tridelphia Reservoir, MD [DSC00204]
What's a pond without some ducks? She and her offspring were hanging out beside the boardwalk. All and all, a rather lazy Sunday morning at the marsh.
2021-07-11 Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA [DSC00204]
Full frame, no cropping. The birds at the marsh ignore the people on the boardwalk. We have GBHEs visiting our local pond, and they are far more skittish.
2021-07-11 Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA [DSC04201]
A not-so-green green heron (young'uns are usually a little dull) hanging out on a Sunday morning at the marsh.
2021-07-11 Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA [DSC04065]
Here's another out-of-place visitor to the region, this one napping on a branch while the paparazzi snap away.
2021-07-11 Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA [DSC04048]
Lots of egrets at the marsh on Sunday, this one doing a little fishing.
2021-07-11 Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA [DSC04070]
Here's a young bird recently up from Florida, hanging out in northern Virginia for the past couple of weeks. While not unprecedented (there's a group of four hanging out in western Virginia as well), they are pretty far north of their usual range. One even showed up in the Twin Cities three years ago, so keep your eyes peeled!
2021-07-11 Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA [DSC04166]
Cormorant family taking a break on the holiday weekend. Maybe. Two adults, a juvenile and some assumptions.
2021-07-03 Chesapeake Beach, MD [DSC03021]
Here's one way to nap: Bring your own feather pillow.
2021-03-03 NIH pond, Bethesda, MD [DSC03444]
I'm melting! I'm melting!
2021-07-07 NIH field, Bethesda, MD [DSC03596]
It's hot out there today; I thought it would be nice to channel thoughts of the beach. This third winter herring gull seems happy to be in the water.
2021-07-03 Chesapeake Beach, MD [DSC02936]
"Feed me! Feed me!" is less cute when the baby is as big as the parent.
2021-07-01 Bethesda, MD [DSC02494]
Here's a family who opted to stay home on the July 4th weekend.
2021-07-03 Chesapeake Beach, MD [DSC02950]
Here's an adult brown thrasher accompanying yesterday's juvenile on a trip to the local eatery.
2021-06-17 NIH pond, Bethesda, MD
A young brown thrasher enjoying a romp in the grass. There are so many brown birds with spots!
2021-06-17 NIH pond, Bethesda, MD
Come along now, let's all stick together. Ignore the big scary thing on the shore shooting us.
2021-06-18 Cedar Is, Potomac, MD
