Late Afternoon at Blackwater NWR

I cannot believe it’s been over a month since my last post; it was not intended.  Too many ups and downs and turn-arounds….

To try to get back in the swing of things, a much-needed fix with nature was back on the agenda.  It finally happened a week ago on a warm, breezy late afternoon at Blackwater NWR.

On arrival, I was immediately rewarded with a small group of warblers, busily foraging the bushes for berries along the wildlife drive near the Marsh Edge Trail.

Yellow-rumped Warblers

 

Pine Warblers

 

Another little guy flew up to a snag and perched.

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White-breasted Nuthatch

 

Many of the residents were soaking up the last of the afternoon’s warm sun rays.

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Forster’s Terns

 

Northern Water Snake

 

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Great Blue Heron

 

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Delmarva Fox Squirrel

 

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Another Great Blue Heron
(who became an obliging photo subject when I passed him two more times)

 

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He allowed me to get a bit closer for a brief moment.

 

Here he is again about an hour later at the same perch.

 

There were a lot of Mallard ducks arriving to the marshes for the evening.

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A male (top) and two female Mallards.

 

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Mallard Ducks

 

Coming upon three Ruddy Ducks was exciting; the winter waterfowl migrants are beginning to arrive!

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Ruddy Ducks

 

On a favorite tree perch, this Bald Eagle allowed me one photo before quickly taking flight.

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Bald Eagle

 

I watched him as he flew over to the refuge’s Osprey platform set up with a live-stream camera that I had already passed.

Bald Eagle on an Osprey platform set up with a live-stream camera

 

As the sun began to set, I quickly did one more lap on the wildlife drive.  The Bald Eagle was still perched on the Osprey platform, bathed in a golden glow.

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Bald Eagle

 

Others were watching the sun’s descent as well.

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Mallard Ducks

 

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Belted Kingfisher

 

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My Great Blue Heron buddy again

 

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Bald Eagles
(the breeze is fluffing up their chest feathers)

 

It was a short and sweet visit, and it was most refreshing.  Now to find time to do it again!  🙂

 

 

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