Creatures

McKee-Beshers Birds

Photograph taken on Saturday, August 09, 2025 by Henry
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)

Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

We had a nice walk at McKee-Beshers today. We first walked to fields 3 and 4, which were planted with sunflowers this year. It’s a bit of a walk, almost 7⁄8 of a mile, getting nearly to the river. The two big sunflower fields were well past peak bloom. The sunflower heads were there but almost all turned downwards. We heard quite a few birds but didn’t see all that many. We heard a lot of goldfinches and indigo buntings, as well as cardinals, but we also heard a yellow-billed cuckoo, which was a treat. I’d have been surprised if we had actually seen that. I got this photo of a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) circling overhead and a few nice photos of this eastern wood-pewee (Contopus virens). We returned to the car and then want to the shallow ponds at the western end of Hunting Quarter Road where we saw this green heron (Butorides virescens).

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Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

Photograph taken on Friday, August 01, 2025 by Henry
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

Cathy and I drove to the eastern end of Ocean Isle this afternoon. First we went to the pier at Ferry Landing Park. This area was closed for renovations after Hurricane Isaias damaged the pier in 2020 and didn’t open again until the very end of 2024. After a short visit there, we parked and walked on the beach. Between November 2021 and April 2022, a groin was constructed perpendicular to the beach at the eastern end of the island. This has dramatically improved the beach stability. We looked for (and found) some pieces of coral as we walked. I carried my long lens and took a few pictures, including some of a double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) at the end of the groin and a few of this flying brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis).

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Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

Photograph taken on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 by Henry
Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

After going to Alligator Pond (see previous post), we continued just into South Carolina to Vereen Memorial Park. This is a relaxing little park with trails through the woods and boardwalks through the marsh to two islands. I got some nice photos of a great egret (Ardea alba). Then, as we were out on the first of the two islands I hear a painted bunting (Passerina ciris) and found it in the top of a small tree. It’s tricky to get a good photo of a bird against the bright sky, but this one turned out reasonably well.

We also saw (and I photographed) eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis), a downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), a Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), and heard but did not see a brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla).

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Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)

Photograph taken on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 by Henry
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)

Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)

We went to Alligator Pond (a.k.a. the Carl Bazemore Bird Walk) again today. We saw the anhinga again but not close. We did, however, see an alligator as well as an adult and juvenile common gallinule (Gallinula galeata). They were moving around quite a bit but I was able to get close enough to get a pretty good photo of each of them. This is the adult bird. Of the two alligators we saw, one of them was quite close, lying on the surface in a clump of weeds and very well camouflaged. But it was close enough we weren’t going to miss it. I got some photos of that, as well.

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Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)

Photograph taken on Sunday, July 27, 2025 by Henry
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)

Cathy and I went to the Carl Bazemore Bird Walk on what we call Alligator Pond on Shoreline Drive, west of the bridge to Sunset Beach. We saw a few alligators in the distance as well as a few birds. The most interesting thing was this anhinga (Anhinga anhinga), catching fish quite close to us. The first fish we saw it catch was small. Then, however, it landed a pretty good size fish (it looks like a bluegill). I got a few shots of it swallowing the fish, so I can confirm that it was an entirely successful catch.

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Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Photograph taken on Saturday, July 05, 2025 by Henry
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Cathy and I took a walk from the Sandy Spring Friends Meeting to Sandy Spring this afternoon. We saw and heard quite a few birds today, which we don’t always do on this particular walk. In particular, we heard and then saw a Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) but my camera refused to focus on it so sadly I was unable to get a photograph. I did get this photo of an eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus), however, and I think it’s a pretty good one. I also got half-decent photos of an indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea), a few red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), and a few pretty blurry photos of a nuthatch (not even good enough to know if it was red- or white-breasted).

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Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

Photograph taken on Sunday, June 15, 2025 by Henry
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

We went to Pennyfield Lock on the C&O Canal today, walking upstream just a little less than 2 miles. We took it fairly slowly and stopped to listen for—and even occasionally photograph—birds. The Merlin app identified four vireos (red-eyed, white-eyed, warbling, and yellow-throated), as well as indigo buntings, orchard oriole, and a few different fly- and gnat-catchers. I got a few nice photos of a great egret (Ardea alba), a couple great blue herons (Ardea herodias) and this turkey vulture (Cathartes aura). I also got photos that aren’t all that good but at least allowed me to identify a ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), an immature male orchard oriole (Icterus spurius), an indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea), and some black vultures (Coragyps atratus). The three smaller birds were way up in tree tops so the photos were not very good at all. Google lens tried to convince me that the orchard oriole was an Asian golden weaver (Ploceus hypoxanthus). Even when I included ‘Maryland’ in my description, it insisted that the picture was not from Maryland because that bird doesn’t exist here. The Merlin app did a better job with it.

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Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Photograph taken on Sunday, June 01, 2025 by Henry
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

We went to the Agricultural History Farm Park today and, among other things, we saw a lot of eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis). We also saw a couple song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), a mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), and an eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus). Not bad for a short visit. The photos of the bluebirds turned out quite well, I think showing off their colors really nicely. This is probably out best place to go to see those, although we’ve seen them even in our neighborhood.

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Birds at McKee-Beshers

Photograph taken on Sunday, May 18, 2025 by Henry
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)

Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)

Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

After the last two weeks, Cathy and I really needed a break. The trip to the National Arboretum was wonderful but even that was a place with lots of people. Today we went to McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area, out River Road.

We didn’t really know what to expect but it turned out to be one of our most fruitful bird outings ever, with thses nine birds photographed and a half dozen more seen and heard. We are big fans of the Merlin app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Having that listen for and identify birds by their song helped us find birds we might not have otherwise seen. I recognized the oreole songs and of course the red-winged blackbird, but I never would have found the red-headed woodpecker or the prothonotary warbler. The night heron was actually at the C&O Canal near Riley’s Lock.

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Dorothy and Kid Goat

Photograph taken on Saturday, April 19, 2025 by Henry
Dorothy and Kid Goat

Dorothy and Kid Goat

Cathy, Dorothy, Jeff and I went out to Rocklands today. Among other things we had a nice, fairy long visit with Janis over a bottle of wine and a pizza. We also walked up to the road where Dorothy had done so much brush clearing a few years back. We also ran into Anna and her kids and we talked with them. Anna’s kids also had a kid, which Dorothy is holding in this photo.

We were there longer than we had expected but it was a beautiful day and nice to be out.

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Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

Photograph taken on Sunday, April 13, 2025 by Henry
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

Cathy and I went to Seneca Creek where Berryville Road passes right next to it. We saw a belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) on a tree leaning out over the water and I was able to get a few photos, although it was pretty far away. We walked upstream and enjoyed the bluebells (Mertensia virginica) that wrre pretty much in full bloom. Some of the flowers were brown, probably as a result of the recent freeze we had a week or so ago.

We heard quite a few birds, including wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) and northern waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis). We didn’t see either of those. A blue-gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) kept showing up on Cathy’s Merlin screen but I didn’t expect to be able to see this little, elusive bird. We did, though, and I was able to get a photo or two.

Today’s photo is of an eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) who sat on a branch over the creek and let me get fairly close.

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Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

Photograph taken on Saturday, April 05, 2025 by Henry
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

Cathy and I visited friends in Delaware this weekend. We went to Prime Hook, a National Wildlife Refuge on Delaware Bay. The background of this photo makes it a little hard to see the bird at first, but otherwise, I like the picture. This is a greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca). They are differentiated from the lesser yellowlegs (T. flavipes) by their size (if seen side by side), by the Greater’s longer, thicker and slightly upturned bill. While we are in the northern most extent of their winter range, they migrate through on their way to the mid-latitudes of Canada for the summer.

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Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

Photograph taken on Sunday, March 09, 2025 by Henry
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

As mentioned in the previous post, we went to Croyden Creek this afternoon. After our walk, on which we saw the woodpecker, we returned to the nature center, where we had parked. I took a few pictures of birds around the feeders there. That included a northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), a few dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), and this tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor). This photo makes him look more blue than gray, but either way, it’s a cute little bird that is hear year round and is often heard repeating Peter-Peter.

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Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Photograph taken on Sunday, March 09, 2025 by Henry
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

We went to Croyden Creek this afternoon, and walked the loop to the east, following the creek down towards Rock Creek, then looping up to near Norbeck Road and back to the old Avery Road cut. About a third of the way around we heard and then saw this pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) high on a dead tree. They certainly are a treat to see, with their red crest, as they dig insects out of trees and stumps. Their call and the very deliberate thumping of their beak against the wood is unmistakable.

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Bald Eagle Nest

Photograph taken on Sunday, February 16, 2025 by Henry
Bald Eagle Nest

Bald Eagle Nest

We walked to Lake Frank today and I took a few pictures of the eagle nest across the lake but we didn’t see either of the eagles. There is a tree near the southern end of the lake where we often see one of them perched so we walked towards that. It had been raining earlier in the day but when we left on our walk the sun was out. As we walked south, the wind picked up and the sky turned grey. About the time we got to where the eagle often sits (but we didn’t see it today) the rain started. We turned for home and were pretty wet by the time we got back. A half hour later the sun was out again. Ah, spring.

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Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)

Photograph taken on Sunday, February 09, 2025 by Henry
Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)

Second Christmas, like all good things, must come to an end. After another visit to grandma, we drove Jim, Abba, and Hannah to the airport a little before midday today. Their flight got cancelled but fortunately they were able to get on another flight and got home without any real problem. Cathy, Dorothy, and I walked the perimeter of of Theodore Roosevelt Island after dropping the others off. There wasn’t a lot going on but I did like these two mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) sitting on a log near the mouth of the marsh at the south end of the island.

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Coragyps atratus (Black Vulture)

Photograph taken on Friday, February 07, 2025 by Henry
Coragyps atratus (Black Vulture)

Coragyps atratus (Black Vulture)

A few minutes after the previous photo was taken, this black vulture (Coragyps atratus) landed on a rock next to the Olmsted Island overlook. He (or she, I have no idea) posed nicely for me, sitting in profile while I was able to get fairly close, especially with my long lens. It lacks the developed sense of smell of our other native vulture, the slightly larger turkey vulture (Cathartes aura). It finds food, therefore, either by sight or by following turkey vultures. From a distance and while flying, the two vultures can be distinguished by the different patterns of grey and black on underside of the wings, the turkey vulture having much more grey. They both fly with dihedral (v-shaped) wings, which makes them easily distinguished from the more flat-winged hawks and eagles.

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White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

Photograph taken on Friday, December 27, 2024 by Henry
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

We decided to go to Great Falls today. It’s probably the most interesting part of the C&O Canal that’s close enough to get to easily and since we don’t have to pay to get in (because we have an America The Beautiful, lifetime senior pass) the fee isn’t an impediment. After walking out to Olmsted Island, as per usual, we went downstream to Widewater. We saw a great blue heron and I got a few nice pictures of that, but since I posted on just a little while ago (and that’s a better picture than I got today anyway), I’m going with this nice shot of a white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). This is a familiar bird, best known for its distinctive “Poor Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody” song.

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Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Photograph taken on Saturday, December 21, 2024 by Henry
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

We went for a short walk on the trails below Croyden Creek Nature Center today. There wasn’t a lot to be seen but it was still really good to be outdoors. Life has been a bit stressful lately and walking in the woods, particularly where there is water nearby, is good for us. This was the only bird we saw on the walk that I was anywhere near close enough to get a photograph. I did take a few of birds (goldfinches) on the feeders at the nature center, as well, but those didn’t turn out as well. This is our common, northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos).

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Cooper’s or Sharp-shinned Hawk

Photograph taken on Saturday, December 07, 2024 by Henry
Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper’s or Sharp-shinned Hawk

An expert might be able to tell from this photo if this is a Cooper’s (Accipiter cooperii) or sharp-shinned (Accipiter striatus) hawk but I’m pretty sure it’s one or the other. Cathy saw this one and another both flying around our yard. This one landed under bushes on the edge of our yard and I was able to get a few worse photos and this one, that at least shows this much. I turned the on-camera flash on, because it was relatively dark out or this one would have certainly been as blurred as the others.

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