Blackwater NWR – Wildlife & Habitat Scenes

My last two posts featured a close-up fly-by of a Bald Eagle and a Merlin launching into an attack, both taken last week at Blackwater NWR in Cambridge, Maryland.

Here’s more from that day’s afternoon visit.

Birds up close…..

“Great Blue Heron Flight”

Bald Eagles “The Chase”

Bald Eagle “I Saw You Long Before You Saw Me”

Great Blue Heron “Did You Say Something?”

“Bald Eagle Flight”

Great Egret “Yoga”

Butterflies…..

Viceroys

Viceroys and Common Buckeye

Monarch

American Painted Lady

Cloudless Sulphur

Other critters…..

Eastern Painted Turtles

Rabbit

Delmarva Fox Squirrel

Birds in habitat…..

Great Blue Heron

Yellowlegs

Osprey

Great Egret

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Double-crested Cormorants, few gulls

Great Egret

And some of the gorgeous scenery that Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge has to offer.

Three Bald Eagles in one of the center trees.

Killdeer territory

Falls colors beginning to bloom

Great Egret and Eagle

Reflections

The famous Eagle webcam is in this forest of trees.

Portion of the Blackwater River

I just shared with you some of why this refuge is one of my favorite places to be with nature.

😊

Tags: Blackwater, Cambridge, Chesapeake Bay, Cloudless Sulphur, Common Buckeye, Delmarva Fox Squirrel, eagle, Eastern Shore, flight, gate, great blue heron, great egret, Maryland, Monarh, National, NWR, painted turtle, reflections, refuge, River, scenery, scenes, water, wildlife, Yellowlegs

46 thoughts on “Blackwater NWR – Wildlife & Habitat Scenes”

David & Laura Speer on 09/26/2019 at 7:17 AM said:

Beautiful, what a great day!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/26/2019 at 7:26 AM said:
  
  Thank you, it is a gorgeous refuge with an approx. seven mile long paved wildlife drive for autos and cyclists. There is always something to see around every twist and turn! 🙂
  
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  - David & Laura Speer on 09/26/2019 at 7:29 AM said:
    
    It looks like it for sure donna.
Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography on 09/26/2019 at 7:43 AM said:

Really nice collection

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/26/2019 at 7:51 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Ted!
  
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novecentomilaepiu on 09/26/2019 at 9:28 AM said:

very beautiful photos!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 3:49 PM said:
  
  Thank you very much!
  
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Susan Hale on 09/26/2019 at 9:58 AM said:

Wow Donna! What an incredible day and variety of wildlife you saw! I’m assuming that most of these were taken from the main drive. Fantastic!!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 3:59 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Susan, yes, all photos taken from the wildlife drive except for the Cormorants which were along Key Wallace Drive and 2 of the 5 butterfly shots & gate from the Visitors Center. Their wildlife drive is pretty special for sure, I love it. Vehicles make awesome ‘photo blinds’ with wildlife at this refuge; and if you get out of your vehicle slowly/carefully, the wildlife will sometimes still oblige a photo or two. 🙂 Tomorrow, Saturday, 8/28, the Wildlife Drive is free all day, if you’re not an annual pass member.
  
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T Ibara Photo on 09/26/2019 at 10:42 AM said:

This is such a beautiful reserve! I can imagine how you must enjoy being surrounded by nature here 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 4:03 PM said:
  
  It really is beautiful, Takami. You can imagine, too, that I have a real hard time having to leave from each visit. If my husband’s with me, eyes have rolled at me a few times! hee hee 😉
  
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Jet Eliot on 09/26/2019 at 11:13 AM said:

I had the opportunity to visit Blackwater once, years ago, and I still remember it vividly because it is such a vast and wildlife-filled place. Your photos were a real treat, Donna, to see Blackwater again. You had such a beautiful day with terrific sunshine and clarity. Fantastic captures. I especially like that one with the great egret balancing on one leg, and stretching the other. Your title for it is perfect. Also fantastic close-up of the monarch on the goldenrod. Easy to see why this NWR is a favorite.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 4:09 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Jet! Yes, it is quite vast, there are other roads and many dirt trails that wind through the refuge that aren’t part of the Wildlife Drive that also offer stunning sights. The refuge is also a huge favorite with kayakers and cyclists. Me, I really hate to leave every time I’m there! 😉
  
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circadianreflections on 09/26/2019 at 2:10 PM said:

What a great variety of birds you saw! The landscapes are beautiful too. I can see why it’s a favorite spot of yours.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 4:11 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Deborah, it is such a diversified refuge, whether you want forest or marshes to enjoy and wildlife view. Me, I’m a marsh kinda gal! 😉
  
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Reed Andariese on 09/26/2019 at 3:14 PM said:

Nice Series of Images Donna! The UI

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Eliza Waters on 09/26/2019 at 3:16 PM said:

Wow, this looks like a wonderful place for observing nature – and so many birds!
Just a noted clarification of butterfly shots: the first ‘Monarch and Buckeye’ (and subsequent one below left) are not Monarchs but Viceroys (note line across lower wing, which Monarchs don’t have) and the mystery one is a Painted Lady.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 4:17 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Eliza, you can see why I love this refuge. Thank you, too for ID help and correction! I do see that black line and have also looked at these two up close online to understand better the differences. With all our Monarch-craze of migrants going through the area, I neglected to even think about Viceroys. My bad! 🙂 Thank you again, my friend!
  
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  - Eliza Waters on 09/27/2019 at 5:59 PM said:
    
    My pleasure, we all learn from each other. One of the great things about blogging. 🙂
Reed Andariese on 09/26/2019 at 3:22 PM said:

Hi again! My iPad crashed while I was typing! The UFB (unidentified Flying Butterfly) is an American Painted Lady.
Again beautiful images!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 4:14 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Reed, I appreciate the ID help! 🙂
  
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H.J. for avian101 on 09/26/2019 at 4:11 PM said:

As always, your photos are fantastic! What a beautiful gate they have. I wish I had a NWR close to me. The Blackwater NWR is so beauiful. Good work, Donna. 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 4:25 PM said:
  
  Thank you, HJ, you would love this refuge. Isn’t that gate gorgeous?!! The seven mile wildlife drive is awesome with your vehicle being a perfect photo blind, they don’t care usually about you. Lots of places to pull off and get out to walk as well. I always hate to leave when it’s time. 😉
  
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tootlepedal on 09/26/2019 at 4:35 PM said:

I can see why you like it. Your pictures make it look very inviting.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 4:32 PM said:
  
  You would thoroughly love cycling along the Wildlife Drive and then onto the surrounding roads. It has a big draw for cyclists for sure, including biking events. Tomorrow is the Worldwide Ironman Triathlon with the bike event portion being 112 miles long that will wind through and around this refuge. Here’s the link to check out: https://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/maryland.aspx#/axzz60l7GPsc0
  
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Isabel F. Bernaldo de Quirós on 09/27/2019 at 4:27 AM said:

A great post, Donna. Thanks for sharing.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 4:33 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Isabel, and you’re quite welcome!
  
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bigskybuckeye on 09/27/2019 at 12:24 PM said:

Thanks for sharing some wonderful photographs from Blackwater. My wife grew up in Cambridge so we experience the Eastern Shore often when we leave our base here in Ohio.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 4:36 PM said:
  
  You’re quite welcome! We’re originally from Kent Island/Kent Narrows area then came here to Cambridge. We really love the Eastern Shore and all it offers. Including those delicious steamed crabs! 🙂
  
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  - bigskybuckeye on 09/27/2019 at 5:27 PM said:
    
    My wife and I were in Cambridge last weekend to attend her brother’s wedding. We enjoyed some of the crab cuisine . . . delicious!
  - bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 5:32 PM said:
    
    🙂
belindagroverphotography on 09/27/2019 at 12:34 PM said:

I can see why you enjoy this refuge. The landscape is beautiful and its residents are so varied. Wonderful series of photos Donna!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 5:29 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Belinda! It’s a year-round wonderland. 🙂
  
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Gunta on 09/27/2019 at 3:00 PM said:

Perfectly lovely! My favorite is the Egret yoga! They seem to easily go from gawky to graceful and then to that frozen statue. My favorite is to watch them fly over the creek here, though I don’t get the unobstructed views through the trees. They’re still a marvel to watch in their serene flights.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/27/2019 at 5:31 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Gunta! Bird yoga looks pretty cool and they do it so well! I do love the egrets in flight, pure white and so beautiful. 🙂
  
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aussiebirder on 09/28/2019 at 4:46 AM said:

What a beautiful reserve Donna, and such a variety of wildlife and habitat. A birders paradise!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/28/2019 at 7:50 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Ashley, it is an awesome refuge with so much diversity. Truly a birders paradise year-round! 🙂
  
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Eddie Two Hawks on 09/29/2019 at 9:26 AM said:

Absorbing, inviting, beautiful, and totally intriguing photography!
What a beautiful place to live Donna

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/30/2019 at 7:40 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Eddie! 🙂
  
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Deeksha Pathak on 09/30/2019 at 1:24 PM said:

Donna,what a beautiful album of photos. My favourites are where the bird’s reflection can be seen in waves.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/30/2019 at 2:37 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Deeksha, it is such a gorgeous refuge, I love spending time here. 🙂
  
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tanjabrittonwriter on 10/02/2019 at 7:46 PM said:

It is so nice for you to have this wonderful oasis directly in front of your doorstep, Donna! And for us, because you like to share its beauty with us! 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/02/2019 at 7:58 PM said:
  
  Tanja, if I could spend every day at this refuge I would. Its diversity is amazing. And the Eagles during the winter, wow! I had hoped to become a volunteer there this fall, but a new ‘chapter’ is in the making right now for my husband and I on leaving the area for a while to do some traveling. It’s a bittersweet time for me for sure….
  
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The Hinoeuma on 10/04/2019 at 3:52 PM said:

AWESOME. You capture things so well, you make your audience feel like they are there.

Egret yoga…LOL!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 10/05/2019 at 8:36 AM said:
  
  Thank you so much, Vic!
  
  If only I could stretch like that! 😉
  
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  - The Hinoeuma on 10/05/2019 at 2:00 PM said:
    
    Yeah. Heh. Me, too…