Spent all day today, literally sunrise to sunset, at Blackwater NWR and the surrounding area. A really good day for birds, particularly raptors. I can't tell you all the species we saw, but here are the highlights:

Key Wallace Dr:
Bald Eagles, adult and immature. One adult observed carrying nesting material. 
Northern Harriers

Blackwater / Wildlife Drive :
Nice sunrise over the water just past the temporary visitors center
Northern Pintail
Bald Eagles
possible American Kestrel
Northern Harrier
4 American White Pelicans
Great Blue Herons a-plenty
1000+ Canada Geese (normally not a highlight for me, but they were so beautiful taking off in large numbers, wheeling and landing).  This number is a wild guess - I'm not very good at estimating numbers of birds. There could have been 2000+ today; there were as many Canada Geese there today as there were Snow Geese when I wasn't there late last December.

Route 335:
more Bald Eagles
more Northern Harriers

Maple Dam road:
more Bald Eagles

Decoursey Bridge Rd:
Golden Eagle!!!
Red-shouldered hawk
more Bald Eagles

Shorters Wharf Rd :
Northern Harriers
Bald Eagles
1 Short-eared owl viewed from approx 3:45-4:10 from the canoe/boat launch.  The owl was quite a long way away, north of the boat launch area, but good views were had by scope. So much fun to watch it flying.  On the way back up Shorters Wharf/Maple Dam Rd, still more Bald Eagles and Northern Harriers. 

One last trip down the Wildlife Drive starting at 4:25 yielded more Bald Eagles, a couple of sparring Great Blue Herons, the pelicans, the Canada Geese and a nice sunset.  3-4 small very low-flying pale creatures flew across the Wildlife Drive in front of the car on our way out. Completely dark at that point so I'm thinking bats. There were a few mosquitoes out and about, so if they were bats they had a food source. 

Notably not in attendance today: Snow Geese.  So many Canada Geese instead. Eagles everywhere. More Harriers than I've ever seen in one day. Very gratifying!  

Sarah Anderson
Cabin John, Maryland

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