What a great day to be out and about!  I got to Blackwater at around 8:30 this morning.  Pretty quiet at first with the tide out and a somewhat surprising amount of ice coverage there.  The Canada Geese are still ruling the proverbial roost but the Tundra Swans are putting in a good effort.  After a couple of laps on the Wildlife Drive and spending lots of time photographing a couple of Great Blue Herons that were eating their fill of very small fish very up close I headed over to the Tubman Trail off of Hip Roof Rd.  There were two eagles at the nest.  They looked content to just be hanging out there in the nice weather.  From there I went to Hooper's Island in search of the Brown Pelicans.  Nice American Kestrel perched on a wire on the way there.  I didn't see them at Tyler's Cove on my way there but having never been to Hooper's Island that was a good excuse to drive all the way to the end of the road.  Gorgeous.  On my way back I stopped at Tyler's Cove and there were two Brown Pelicans each occupying the top of a piling.  Fantastic opportunity to see the bird up close.  After that I started driving back to Blackwater.  The kestrel was still there.  Also saw a Sika deer & red fox while I was still in that seemingly less-traveled part of the county.  Back at Wildlife Drive for one leisurely lap to include a fantastic sunset, augmented by lots of Tundra swans as well as the 4-5 American White Pelicans.  Here are the highlights of birds seen today:

Blackwater:
Canada geese
Tundra swan
Mallard
Bald eagle
Great Blue heron
American coot
Northern harrier (saw a few females but am pretty sure I got a brief glimpse of a male too)
Northern mockingbird
Red-tailed hawk
Wilson's snipe (Wildlife Drive, from the blind just past the turn off for the marsh edge trail)
American white pelican 

Along the road to and from Hooper's Island:
American Kestrel
Sika deer
Red fox

Hooper's Island:
Brown pelican (Tyler's Cove boat dock)
Bald eagle
Tundra swan

There were, of course, lots of other birds there - these are just the ones I took special note of.  Also so enjoyable to talk to the other birders there - lots of good information exchanged.  Such a fun day!!

Sarah B. Anderson
Cabin John, Maryland

 

 

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