Suburban D.C. Sligo Creek Parkway, Maryland

While in the D.C. area our home base was my friend's home in Montgomery County, Maryland. It was a fun area and reminded me a good deal of my Grandparents' neighborhood in Minneapolis. A real treat for me was that just down the hill was a wild park area preserved along a creek. Several mornings I was able to beat the sun up and watch the light progress down from the treetops. Often as I made my way down the steep drive to the park I would be accompanied by a pair of Northern Cardinals. Of course it was far too dark to get their pictures, but the fellow above on a power line at a road crossing had better lighting and will serve to remind me of the other early risers.


Because the light was best up high I made use of a few clear views to the tops of some dead snags and watched whatever was warming in the early morning rays. The Red-bellied's were again prominent, but they get to wait. Instead here was a White-Breasted Nuthatch showing what it means to be truly unaffected by vertigo.


These shots were all easily 40 feet up, and yet this individual preferred to spend most of the time looking straight down, rather than even poking at the bark along the way.



A sure fire way to jump start the day!

As the light worked its way lower I was able to get a good look at a pair of Catbirds as well.


As the time grew near for more activities in the area I would return to the house and wait on the deck for others to rise and come out. From there I had a great time watching the House Sparrows, Carolina Chickadees, Blue Jays and Robins in the trees. I even added this first timer to the list just by sitting and watching.


The Tufted Titmouse a bird who was much nicer to observe in person than my poor photographs relate. It is a cool mix of whites, greys, and black - with just a splash of rust color under the wings. A very pleasant surprise.

Good Things Come, While Sitting on a Deck

Sunday was a great Minnesota day for being outside. The weather was cool enough to kick a soccer ball or play catch with the kids. A bit later it was just fine for sitting in the shade with my DSLR close at hand, enjoying the company of family and feathered friends.

Least, (in stature) but not last, was this Eastern Phoebe. It found an opening in the mature pines and perched as I caught a few frames. I didn't get to confirm this little guy while on site, but based on the coloring and lack of either eyering or wingbars I believe the ID fits.

Later, while my folks had joined me outside I saw a hawk cross just through my field of view on the edge of a lazy circle. I sprang to my feet and hurried across the deck focusing and shooting as I went. It circled over the roofline, but I had a feeling I would get another look as it returned. I stood atop a table bench as it came and was able to get a few frames including the shot above. Then the decades old redwood crashed! I rode the bench down, (thanks snowboarding), and found myself eighteen inches lower and no worse for the wear. We all had a good laugh about the lesson I had provided the five year old and two year old about standing on furniture. I then quickly went inside to confirm a Krider's Red-tailed Hawk. I had wondered initially about a Broad-Winged Hawk, but with a chance to observe zoomed in views on my photos I confirmed the faint patagial bars (invisible in the sun) and the white terminal band (black on a Broad-Wing).

Finally, as I waited outside before we all shared an early, pre-departure dinner, I saw a beautiful splash of color and motion explode uphill near the birdbath! It was a young Cardinal, possibly the same one from yesterday's post, attempting to figure out the birdbath. With the overhead sunlight and soft reds and oranges it could have been a Phoenix. I watched through several visits where he never landed, just gave his best hummingbird impression and was back to the bushes beyond.

2009 Count: 173
Lifetime: 183

A Walk Around the Lake

Gray Catbird

In Minnesota, for my family like many others, there is nothing like "going for a walk around 'the' lake" in nice weather. The concept of "the" lake is clear when you live in a land of 10,000 of them. There is generally a lake in the neighborhood, and it is usually ringed by a trail or two. Instead of a walk around the block, you walk around the lake. My maternal Grandparents lived a few blocks from Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, and walking around the lake, or in their case lakes meant one or a combination of Calhoun, Harriet, and Isles.

Northern Cardinal

When I was very young the city of Bloomington drained a large marshy area just across the street from my home, and created Mt. Normandale Lake. Myself and a few other neighborhood kids felt like lords in the manor in that large park. We built forts in the trees, played hockey on its frozen ice, fished from its banks and biked, ran, and Rollerbladed its trails. Needless to say a summertime return to Minnesota is always highlighted by a return to the "lake".

Great Egret

Sharing time outdoors with family just adds to the fun, and for my Saturday visit I was joined by my Brother-in-law, Nephew, and Niece. We started out in sprinkles, but by the time we made the 2 mile loop the sun was out and humidity was rising.

Great Blue Heron

I had a great time, and in addition to the species photographed I enjoyed two Osprey circling overhead, many young Wood Ducks and Blue-winged Teal, and a lifer Eastern Wood Pewee. Unfortunately the mid-day sun and our relation two it kept any of those photos from being blog worthy. The only other miss was a Green Heron that my Sister and Brother-in-law had seen on a run the day before. Getting to wade across a flooded section of trail where the rain swollen lake had joined a nearby pond made it a memorable adventure for all of us. I can't wait until my next visit, whenever it may be.

2009 Count: 172

Lifetime: 182