Bay Photos by Donna

 

Another grand time at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, Maryland!

I’ll start this post with photos of the primary winter duck wintering there, the gorgeous Northern Pintail.  The refuge’s official waterfowl survey has shown there’s been anywhere from 1500-2800 counted at a single time on the refuge since December.

I settled in at a nice spot where some had congregated and more began to land.

 

Northern Pintails landing

 

 

They are so pretty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were the expected American Black Ducks and Mallards in the mix of Northern Pintails, but it was exciting to spot a Green-winged Teal who had probably gotten separated from its own flock.

 

A Green-winged Teal (male) seeking refuge with the Northern Pintails

 

There were still a few Ring-necked Ducks in another pool area still quite a distance from the wildlife drive.

 

Ring-necked Duck (male)

 

Another bird mixed in with the ducks were yellowlegs.  There were a few of both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs tiptoeing around.

 

Greater Yellowlegs

 

Something in the sky in the distance caught my eye and I was thrilled to see a large flock of American White Pelicans in a thermal, spiraling away from the wildlife drive.  I wasn’t sure if I’d get any shots that I’d surely have to crop, and I did!  I counted 135, wow!

 

American White Pelicans

 

American White Pelicans

 

American White Pelicans in a thermal

 

Also in the sky, there were four Forster’s Terns hunting over the waters, presumably rare at this time.

 

Forster’s Tern

 

With already a slew of shots this post, I’ll end with the beautiful Tundra Swans still gracing the refuge.

 

Tundra Swans

 

 

More to come with “Part 2″…..