10,000 Snow Geese

I've been waiting all winter for word that the Snow Geese had arrived at Blackwater NWR, but as of Saturday there was no such word. As you may have read in previous posts I couldn't decide if I should go to Pennsylvania, to a location where a Snowy Owl had been seen for almost a month, or over to the Eastern Shore to look for Snow Geese. As you can see I decided to look for the Snow Geese, and my Dad and I found them. Just after we crossed the Chesapeake Bay we noticed wave after wave of Snow Geese in the air far off in the distance. As we continued down route 50 we could see the Geese starting to land in a very large field. We spent about two hours as more and more geese landed in the field.

There was also a flock of about 50 Tundra Swans, here are three of them in flight.

HELP with the Snow, Owl or Goose

I had planned to go to Blackwater NWR this weekend to see the Snow Geese that I didn't have the chance to visit last year, but now a SNOW OWL has been seen in the same area in PA for the last two weeks. Both locations are equal distances, about 2 hours, so you can see I'm torn. 

What would you do.......?

Bird of the Week: Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Chicadee

The Carolina Chickadee is one of my favorite feathered friends. I have over 5000 photos in my personal library, and few of this common bird. I've been so busy seeking out the less common birds, I've forgotten to pay attention to the ones right here. 

Last year during project Nest Watch one of my nest boxes had a clutch of these birds who all fledged successfully.   

This past weekend I went out looking for the Carolina Chickadee, and I realized just how elusive they can be. They were all camera shy while gleaning the pine needles at Centennial Lake in Columbia, MD. The combination of poor winter lighting, wind blowing in the trees and the erratic feeding behavior prevented me from getting the shot I wanted for this post. 

I took the above photo last spring while following a Coopers Hawk, and didn't really pay attention to it after that. It's not my best photo in terms of quality, but I think it shows all of my favorite traits of this bird. 

Each of my birds: Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron

Crawfish for Breakfast  

Most of the summer of 2011 was spent chasing this bird around Columbia, MD. I would spend my evenings perusing eBird looking for sightings, and then head for those locations the next day. 

Wilde Lake always had sightings, and one day when I arrived there one Yellow-crowned had just been seen, but by the time I arrived where it was seen it was gone.

Finally, on an especially hot morning in June I found him. I was on the North side of Lake Elkhorn and across the lake in the mist burning off the lake I could see the outline of a small heron. I used my telephoto lens on my camera to zoom in, but I still could barely make out the bird in the view finder. 

I hurriedly made my way to that side of the lake and down into the weeds. It took me about ten minutes to get to the lake moving as slowly as I could so as not to disturb the heron. 

When I got to the edge of the lake I initially thought the heron was gone because he was standing so still. I was worried I had frightened him, but I quickly realized he didn't care about me because it was time for breakfast.  I got to spend about twenty minutes within 15 yards of this beautiful bird, closer than most birds let me. I considered this my reward for following him all over Howard County the last few weeks. 

Looking Good

New Lifer, but sad discovery

I started the day at Patapsco State Park, Daniels area. 

Ebird Checklist PSP Daniels

It is COLD, bitterly cold. I love to go out and looks for my feathered friends, but today was difficult. Even with all of my layers I didn't feel warm at all, except when I found my first Winter Wren. As I walked the river bank I became bored looking for wood ducks in all of the downed trees on the banks. There isn't any shelter from the wind on the banks, and the sun was already tucked behind the mountain tops making it even colder. Off to my left up a narrow worn road was a small grouping of pines on a steep incline leading to a rock face. There was a small trickling stream in the gully leading down towards the river. I heard rustling in the leaves all around me, but I didn't see anything. 

Fifteen yards away from me in a grouping of scraggly bushes I saw movement. The distinctive lightly colored eye line contrasting with the rusty brown upper-parts, but below I saw another wren. For the first time I found a winter wren, small round body, and very short tale. It was scurrying in and out of logs and muddy overhands like a mouse. It was very entertaining watching it for a while. Also in the area were two tufted titmouses who were foraging on the ground, something I hadn't seen before, usually they are in the tree tops.

Unfortunately I also found a deceased Green Heron on the bank of the river. It appeared that he hadn't been there for long. I think that with the recent warm weather the heron had hung around too long, and when the cold air setteled in a few days ago it was too late for him to move south. 

I also went by Centennial Park and sat in my car at the boat ramp. The only bird of note there was a Canvasback that I saw all the way in the red bridge cove on the opposite side of the lake.

Centennial Lake eBird list

1st Outing of 2012

W. Blithe

I decided Centennial Lake would be a good place to start my birding year, and it was a good choice. As soon as I reached the lake near the main pavilion I saw a new lifer. A male canvasback was floating around in large circles in the open water. There was also another surprise for January, a double crested cormorant. The temperatures have been unseasonably warm so that may be the reason for the late visitor.

My Dad and I also came upon a Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk perched about 75 yards from the main trail. My Dad was able to walk within 10 yards of the bird which was about 10 feet off the ground. I was surprised at how near he was able to get. 

1st Cent eBird checklist