Bay Photos by Donna

After birding the Chesapeake Forest Lands North Tara Rd on May 9 (my last post), I headed off on my own to two more locations in Dorchester County to continue participating in the Spring Count for eBird.

There’s a nice little swamp that I thought might produce some more species for my count, specifically the Prothonotary Warbler. They love a swampy setting, and although I’ve not checked there in the past nor heard of anyone seeing any there, my hopes were high on my list for the time of the year.  There was no pull-off, so I had to park off the road onto a grassy shoulder and walk back.

Woohoo, I was not disappointed and on Cloud 9!

The first photo is the female, she popped out after all the male’s chatter; the rest are of the male with his rusty crown.

Givin’ me the eye!

There’s a possible chance this couple is breeding here.  The male immediately popped out of the swamp scene to defend his territory, with a couple times swooping at my head flying across.  I did a quick photo session and bid farewell, to leave them to their swampy, quiet home.  What a memory, a bird I’ve only seen a couple times!