On the subject of red-heads, here's a red-headed duck.
2022-02-27 Gunner's Lake, Germantown, MD [DSC086581]
Not particularly rare, but it took a few trips to find. Populations were dropping rapidly and it was listed as "near threatened" until 2017. Deforestation and blight reduced their food sources (beechnut and chestnut), and cleaning out snags and dead trees removed nesting habitat. Populations stabilized, so it is now a species of "least concern".
2022-02-27 McKee-Beshers WMA, Poolesville, MD [DSC08428]
Latin Oxyura jamaicenses for “sharp-tailed from Jamaica”, which you can see from his distinctive tail. Breeding males have reddish plumage (hence the English name) and a bright blue bill, which you might be able to see near PG or around the twin cities. Send pictures!
2022-02-20 Lake Artemesia, College Park, MD [IMG_1505]
No idea how old it is.
2022-02-20 Lake Artemesia, College Park, MD [IMG_1635]
A rainbow trout splashing in the water near the shore. Three of them were hanging out looking kind of dead, then flip and splash, apparently they are alive!
2022-02-20 Lake Artemesia, College Park, MD [IMG_1370]
The ladies also sport the punk look, though in muted colours.
2022-02-20 Lake Artemesia, College Park, MD [IMG_1293]
Some hooded mergansers were hanging out near the gulls, dipping under from time to time in search of food. The hoods shift from flat, with a narrow strip of white, to more than vertical. These guys have theirs half raised.
2022-02-20 Lake Artemesia, College Park, MD [IMG_1297]
Even though yesterday's eagle was not yet a full adult (second or third year plumage), this flock of ring-billed gulls still took flight when it appeared high above.
2022-02-20 Lake Artemesia, College Park, MD [IMG_1342]
Not so iconic when they are young. Second and third years are motley brown. Even fourth years still have some brown feathers in their otherwise white head.
It looks like some of the feathers are broken on the wing tips, but that is probably just bad preening. The primaries in this third season female show that the shaft is on one side of the feather, with very short barbs on the back side.
2022-02-20 Lake Artemesia, College Park, MD [IMG_16190]
On a lovely Saturday with a temperature of 14 °C, the early flowers in full bloom, much of the garden remains in stasis. Spring is not quite here: On Sunday it is -4 °C and the snow is falling. The hydrangeas are wise to keep their winter coats.
2022-02-12 Brookside Gardens, Silver Spring, MD [IMG_1129]
The oriental paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysanthia) is ready to blossom. Each bell will burst out into a ball of little white trumpet flowers. The name comes from the bark, which is made into mitsumata paper for arts and crafts. It's also pretty where it is, providing lovely winter contrast.
2022-02-12 Brookside Gardens, Silver Spring, MD [IMG_1078]
A witch hazel shrub (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Strawberries and Cream') announcing that it is time for spring. The name comes from Middle English wiche meaning "pliant', not wicche meaning "sorceress", though its use in dowsing rods encourages the confusion.
2022-02-12 Brookside Gardens, Silver Spring, MD [IMG_1135]
Yesterday the birds; today the bees. This honey bee (Apis mellifera) is tending to the newly opened winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis).
2022-02-12 Brookside Gardens, Silver Spring, MD [IMG_11061]
Courtship ritual. The geese paired off in the pond, showing their love by sticking their necks out for their mates.
2022-02-10 NIH pond, Bethesda, MD [IMG_1047]
Another hairy woodpecker from Northampton (last one was #17).
This guy has done a pretty thorough job stripping this tree!
2021-12-31 Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, Northampton, MA [DCS0633]
Ivy-leafed morning glory (Ipomoea hederacea) ??
2021-08-03 Bethesda, MD [DSC06816]
Not entirely smooth sailing for the kayakers.
2022-01-30 Great Falls, Potomac, MD [IMG_0487]
A few kernels stayed in the field after the harvest (Zea mays), showing a bit of contrast on this February morning. I don't know why the birds didn't find them.
2022-02-06 McKee-Beshers WMA, Poolesville, MD [DSC07788]
To balance winter's cold monochrome here is a splash of summer brightness.
2021-08-04 NIH Pond, Bethesda, MD [DSC06917]
Tiny snow drifts at Sandy Point Park from the same steady wind that kept the seagull aloft.
2022-01-29 Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis, MD [IMG_0266]
A quick trip to the beach to visit the seagulls. This one was hovering in place in the wind, shortly after takeoff. You can still see water dripping from the beak.
2022-01-29 Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis, MD [IMG_0203]
Duck pose: lazy version. Sit on the ice and soak up some rays.
2022-01-22 Theodore Roosevelt Is, Washington, DC [IMG_9830]
Winter event: duck pose. Stand barefoot on one leg in ice water and enjoy!
2022-01-22 Theodore Roosevelt Is, Washington, DC [IMG_9831]
This small bird flicks itself along the branches, systematically searching the tree for any bugs that might be there for the taking.
2022-01-30 Great Falls, Potomac, MD [IMG_0620]
A bluebird dining on juniper berries. Her perch is precarious. Some of her flock didn't land, instead hovering in place to grab the berries.
2022-01-30 Great Falls, Potomac, MD [IMG_0606]
A kayak navigating the icy waters of Great Falls.
2022-01-30 Great Falls, Potomac, MD [IMG_0503]