Cold front coming...

From the NOAA charts (http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/national_forecast/natfcst.php?day=1), it looks like we have a cold front arriving tomorrow. Here are the charts for today and tomorrow:

White-eyed Vireo song

At Middle Patuxent Environmental Area today, there was a very noisy group of White-eyed Vireos. Perhaps a family group of local breeder, or migrants from further afield? One was singing vigorously, and I was able to capture this cool spectrogram of its busy, staccato little song.

Warblers etc - Middle Patuxent Environmental Area -- 2012-08-31 08:59

A nice mix of migrants at Middle Patuxent Environmental Area this morning, including 10 species of warbler. Enjoyable place. This was my first time here.

Maybe some photos to follow, depending on how they turned out ;)

chlorophonia
2012-08-31 08:59
Middle Patuxent Environmental Area
Traveling
1.80 km
139 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clear, calm, 80 F.

3 Turkey Vulture
1 Osprey
1 Mourning Dove
1 Barred Owl
1 Chimney Swift
2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
3 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker
3 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Acadian Flycatcher
1 Great Crested Flycatcher
5 White-eyed Vireo
2 Red-eyed Vireo
3 American Crow
2 Fish Crow
5 Carolina Chickadee
5 Tufted Titmouse
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
3 Carolina Wren
4 House Wren
3 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
8 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Mockingbird
3 Blue-winged Warbler
2 Northern Parula
3 Chestnut-sided Warbler
5 Magnolia Warbler
1 Black-and-white Warbler
7 American Redstart
1 Worm-eating Warbler
1 Ovenbird
3 Common Yellowthroat
1 Canada Warbler
1 Eastern Towhee
5 Northern Cardinal
3 Indigo Bunting
1 Baltimore Oriole
10 American Goldfinch

Common Yellowthroat

A lot of these around yesterday:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27588142@N06/7894698906

Bashful Hooded Warbler

Bashful Hooded Warbler, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

Doing it's best to eff with me... ;)

Hooded Warbler -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-08-30 06:32

This site doesn't seem especially productive for migrant warblers, but I did manage to scrape up a few this morning, including a stunning male Hooded Warbler. Photos to follow.

chlorophonia
2012-08-30 06:32
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.54 km
116 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clear, calm, 64 F. 2 North American Beavers

11 Canada Goose
4 Wood Duck
18 Mallard
2 Great Blue Heron
1 Green Heron
2 Black-crowned Night-Heron
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
3 Mourning Dove
1 Chimney Swift
4 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
1 Belted Kingfisher
3 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Downy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker
1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
6 Red-eyed Vireo
1 Blue Jay
4 American Crow
1 Carolina Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
7 Carolina Wren
18 American Robin
13 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Mockingbird
10 European Starling
1 Chestnut-sided Warbler
2 Magnolia Warbler
4 American Redstart
1 Ovenbird
6 Common Yellowthroat
1 Hooded Warbler
Specie Comments: Male. Photos
6 Song Sparrow
4 Northern Cardinal
1 Common Grackle
2 Baltimore Oriole
4 American Goldfinch
1 House Sparrow

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher?

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher?, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

Or is this an Acadian Flycatcher? Did I fluff this one? Feedback appreciated! :)

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, a photo by sjdavies1969 on Flickr.

From earlier this evening on the Northwest Branch trail.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher -- Northwest Branch Trail - Burnt Mills Dam -- 2012-08-29 15:36

Slow along the Northwest Branch this evening and had to work hard for birds, but i did scrape up a few migrants, including a bright Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Photos to follow.

chlorophonia
2012-08-29 15:36
Northwest Branch Trail - Burnt Mills Dam
Traveling
1.54 km
120 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: 3/8 cloud cover, calm, 80 F.

1 Wood Duck
1 Green Heron
2 Mourning Dove
1 Barred Owl
3 Chimney Swift
1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
4 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Downy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
3 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Specie Comments: Small, large-headed empid. Broad-based bill, mostly orange lower mandible. Obvious pale yellow eyering, broadest behind eye. Bright olive above, with pale creamy yellow wingbars. Underparts pale yellow throughout, from throat to undertail coverts, olive wash on breast. Did not call. Feeding in lower canopy, then again, few min later, in low shrubs along creek.
1 Great Crested Flycatcher
2 Red-eyed Vireo
1 American Crow
5 Carolina Chickadee
4 Tufted Titmouse
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
3 Carolina Wren
2 House Wren
1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
8 American Robin
1 Gray Catbird
3 Magnolia Warbler
1 Black-throated Blue Warbler
3 Black-and-white Warbler
1 American Redstart
1 Common Yellowthroat
4 Northern Cardinal
1 Baltimore Oriole
8 American Goldfinch

Common Nighthawk

One of the many Common Nighthawks passing over the stormwater ponds this last evening.

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/27588142@N06/7879265728

Cold front precipitation

Here comes the rain associated with the inbound cold front. Should be here any minute :)

Pressure dropping...

The air pressure across the area has dropped dramatically, after days and days of high pressure...

Cold front passing today

We have a cold front moving through from the northwest right about now. After days and days of high pressure, I wonder how or if this will affect the bird migration...

Common Nighthawks -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-08-27 16:55

Good count of Common Nighthawks over the stormwater ponds this evening. Oddly enough, all moving in a northeasterly direction.

chlorophonia
2012-08-27 16:55
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.06 km
55 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: 2/8 cloud cover, S force 1-2, 90 F.

9 Canada Goose
2 Wood Duck
6 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Green Heron
1 Black-crowned Night-Heron
9 Mourning Dove
83 Common Nighthawk
21 Chimney Swift
2 Belted Kingfisher
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Carolina Wren
3 Gray Catbird
6 European Starling
2 Song Sparrow
14 American Goldfinch
6 House Sparrow

White-eyed Vireo this morning

White-eyed Vireo
Originally uploaded by sjdavies1969

A first fall bird with dark iris. There was another, singing loudly, in the bushes close by.

Rocky Gorge Reservoir - Browns Bridge (Howard County) -- 2012-08-27 09:00

Highlights included a Lesser Yellowlegs and a couple each of Northern Parulas and White-eyed Vireos.

chlorophonia
2012-08-27 09:00
Rocky Gorge Reservoir - Browns Bridge (Howard County)
Traveling
1.53 km
68 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: 2/8 cloud cover, sunny, calm, 80 F. 1 woodchuck.

19 Canada Goose
2 Great Blue Heron
2 Green Heron
1 Bald Eagle
8 Killdeer
1 Lesser Yellowlegs
9 Semipalmated Sandpiper
12 Least Sandpiper
1 Mourning Dove
2 Belted Kingfisher
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker
1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
1 Eastern Kingbird
2 White-eyed Vireo
1 Red-eyed Vireo
2 Blue Jay
2 American Crow
1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow
1 Purple Martin
2 Carolina Chickadee
1 Tufted Titmouse
4 Carolina Wren
2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
1 American Robin
6 Gray Catbird
2 Northern Parula
3 Northern Cardinal
2 American Goldfinch

This morning's Solitary Sandpiper

I love these guys! A real migrant through these parts, nesting no closer than southern Canada and wintering from southern Texas southwards. http://www.flickr.com/photos/27588142@N06/7868962158

Amazona sp. (!) - Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-08-26 08:17

A Solitary Sandpiper and a couple of Coopers Hawks were good to see, but bizarre moment of the morning was a large Amazona parrot seen briefly over the treetops to the east! Someone lost a pet.

Fresher feel today with winds from the southeast. Wonder what the next few days will bring...

chlorophonia
2012-08-26 08:17
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.22 km
63 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: 6/8 cloud cover, SE force 3, 75 F. 2 North American Beavers.

3 Canada Goose
2 Wood Duck
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Green Heron
1 Black-crowned Night-Heron
2 Cooper's Hawk
1 Solitary Sandpiper
1 Rock Pigeon
9 Mourning Dove
1 Amazona sp.
Comments: Certainly an escape. Large Amazona sp., 5-6 sec view flying over treetops. Heavy build, short rounded tail. Head appeared all green, without other patches of color. Thick pale eyering. Red patches in secondaries, like Mealy Parrot etc. Missing many primaries in both wings. Flight weak and labored.
1 Belted Kingfisher
4 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 Blue Jay
2 American Crow
3 Carolina Wren
4 American Robin
5 Gray Catbird
1 European Starling
1 Northern Cardinal
3 Common Grackle
1 Baltimore Oriole
8 American Goldfinch
15 House Sparrow

Sligo Creek Park (north) -- 2012-08-26 07:35

Briefly heard a Veery give a couple short phrases of song. An Acadian Flycatcher singing too.

chlorophonia
2012-08-26 07:35
Sligo Creek Park (north)
Traveling
1.59 km
32 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: 5/8 cloud cover, SE force 2, 70 F.
2 Mourning Dove
2 Chimney Swift
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Downy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker
1 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Acadian Flycatcher
Specie Comments: Singing.
1 Red-eyed Vireo
2 Carolina Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Carolina Wren
1 Veery
23 American Robin
4 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Cardinal
3 American Goldfinch
1 House Sparrow

Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-08-24 06:42

Nice mix of species this morning, including flyover American Kestrel and Eastern Kingbirds. Couple of other distant flyovers were also probably Eastern Kingbirds - on the move maybe?

chlorophonia
2012-08-24 06:42
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.06 km
62 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Overcast, calm, 73 F. 2 beavers and 1 red fox

24 Canada Goose
4 Wood Duck
15 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Green Heron
5 Black-crowned Night-Heron
1 American Kestrel
23 Mourning Dove
45 Chimney Swift
2 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
1 Belted Kingfisher
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker
1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
1 Eastern Kingbird
3 Blue Jay
2 American Crow
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
5 Carolina Wren
5 American Robin
4 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Mockingbird
20 European Starling
2 Northern Cardinal
22 Common Grackle
1 Baltimore Oriole
8 American Goldfinch
12 House Sparrow

Late summer cicada cacophony

It's a calm and warm late August morning and the cicada chorus from the trees around the house is intense. Here's a spectrogram of a burst from a nearby cicada - very rapid (~15 pulses/second?), with lower (2500-4500 Hz) and higher (>6500 Hz) frequency components.

Snapping turtle evasive action!

I happened upon this snapping turtle climbing out of one of the stormwater ponds. Rather than be in my presence, this creature from The Black Lagoon decided it was better to belly-roll oh-not-so-gracefully back into the cruddy water.

Video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URmEpWCLodM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-08-23 06:56

Slow morning at the stormwater ponds. I'm blaming it on the prevailing high pressure and calm conditions of the last few days. Had fun with the snapping turtle though! More later.

chlorophonia
2012-08-23 06:56
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.11 km
59 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clear, calm, 68 F. 2 beavers and a big snapping turtle.
19 Canada Goose
11 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Green Heron
4 Black-crowned Night-Heron
9 Mourning Dove
1 Belted Kingfisher
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Blue Jay
5 Carolina Wren
2 American Robin
3 Gray Catbird
6 European Starling
3 Song Sparrow
4 Northern Cardinal
20 Common Grackle
5 American Goldfinch
6 House Sparrow

Common True Katydid call

The bedroom window is open and I can hear katydids singing from the trees outside. Here's an iPhone-acquired spectrogram of a fairly close individual. The spectrogram shows five tightly-spaced pulses at 6500-10500 Hz. To my ear, it sounds more like four, it's that rapid. The noise below 6500 Hz is crickets and background traffic noise.

Olive-sided Flycatcher

At the stormwater ponds today:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27588142@N06/7837810404

Olive-sided Flycatcher -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-08-22 06:47

Best bird today was an Olive-sided Flycatcher! Photo coming later :)

chlorophonia
2012-08-22 06:47
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.43 km
66 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Light patchy cloud, sunny, calm, 64 F.

11 Canada Goose
4 Wood Duck
3 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Green Heron
3 Black-crowned Night-Heron
Specie Comments: 2 adults, 1 juvenile.
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
Specie Comments: Juvenile.
6 Mourning Dove
1 Common Nighthawk
3 Chimney Swift
2 Belted Kingfisher
3 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
1 Olive-sided Flycatcher
Specie Comments: Photo
1 Blue Jay
2 American Crow
1 Carolina Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 Carolina Wren
10 American Robin
7 Gray Catbird
11 European Starling
5 Song Sparrow
5 Northern Cardinal
15 Common Grackle
1 Baltimore Oriole
2 House Finch
5 American Goldfinch
16 House Sparrow

Eastern Wood-Pewee call

I was playing around with a few apps on my iPhone this morning, while out on the Northwest Branch, and got this neat sonogram screenshot of an Eastern Wood-Pewee call. Cool!

Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-08-21 08:18

Quiet at the ponds. No sign of yesterday's Great Egrets.

chlorophonia
2012-08-21 08:18
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
0.93 km
46 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clear sky, hazy, calm, 66 F.
1 Canada Goose
1 Great Blue Heron
2 Green Heron
2 Black-crowned Night-Heron
10 Mourning Dove
1 Belted Kingfisher
3 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
1 Blue Jay
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
4 Carolina Wren
1 American Robin
6 Gray Catbird
20 European Starling
1 Song Sparrow
4 Northern Cardinal
19 Common Grackle
1 House Finch
5 American Goldfinch
3 House Sparrow

Northwest Branch Trail - Burnt Mills Dam -- 2012-08-21 06:09

Relatively quiet on the NW Branch this morning - a few American Redstarts, a Canada Warbler and a Northern Parula in the warbler department. Lots of Red-eyed Vireos and Eastern Wood-Pewees too. Also robins feeding a nestful of young and one very big beaver in the creek. Photos later!


chlorophonia
2012-08-21 06:09
Northwest Branch Trail - Burnt Mills Dam
Traveling
2.43 km
113 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Mostly clear at first, cloud and light fog developing later. Calm, 70 F.
10 Wood Duck
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Mourning Dove
1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo
2 Chimney Swift
1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
2 Belted Kingfisher
5 Red-bellied Woodpecker
5 Downy Woodpecker
2 Hairy Woodpecker
1 Pileated Woodpecker
6 Eastern Wood-Pewee
2 Acadian Flycatcher
5 Red-eyed Vireo
4 American Crow
6 Carolina Chickadee
5 Tufted Titmouse
6 White-breasted Nuthatch
7 Carolina Wren
4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
10 American Robin
1 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Parula
4 American Redstart
1 Canada Warbler
6 Northern Cardinal
2 Baltimore Oriole
6 American Goldfinch

Great Egret floating in to the stormwater ponds

Great Egret
Originally uploaded by sjdavies1969

One of the three Great Egrets I watched arrive at the Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds this morning.

Great Egrets -- Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- 2012-08-20 06:36

I was bemoaning the lack if migrants and drop-off in heron numbers when three Great Egrets dropped in from the north. Ah the magic of migration ;)

Other highlights were TWO beavers and a Spotted Sandpiper.

Why so few migrant passerines here?

chlorophonia
2012-08-20 06:36
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.22 km
67 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Overcast, dull, calm, 68 F. 2 beavers.

10 Canada Goose
4 Wood Duck
18 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
3 Great Egret
1 Black-crowned Night-Heron
1 Spotted Sandpiper
5 Mourning Dove
1 Belted Kingfisher
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker
2 Blue Jay
5 American Crow
1 Fish Crow
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
6 Carolina Wren
6 American Robin
2 Gray Catbird
6 European Starling
2 Song Sparrow
2 Northern Cardinal
15 Common Grackle
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
1 Baltimore Oriole
7 American Goldfinch

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler
Originally uploaded by sjdavies1969

Along the Northwest Branch Trail in Silver Spring, a mile or so from Rachel Carson's house.

North American Beaver at the stormwater ponds

North American Beaver
Originally uploaded by sjdavies1969

I love these guys! Feel sorry for them swimming around in the mucky water in these ponds, dodging soda bottles etc. For me, they're a welcome piece of wild in the suburban wasteland.

Red Foxes at the Stormwater Ponds

Red Foxes
Originally uploaded by sjdavies1969

Here's a grainy shot from first light of two foxes sniffing around the Wheaton Stormwater Ponds.

Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds -- night-herons continue, beaver, foxes

An early morning visit confirmed there are still at least six Black-crowned Night-Herons still present. The beaver and two red foxes were the real highlights though! More to follow :)

chlorophonia
2012-08-19 06:16
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.58 km
95 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Overcast, calm, 66 F.
22 Canada Goose
2 Wood Duck
18 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
5 Green Heron
6 Black-crowned Night-Heron
20 Mourning Dove
3 Chimney Swift
1 Belted Kingfisher
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker
1 Eastern Kingbird
1 Blue Jay
1 American Crow
1 Tufted Titmouse
6 Carolina Wren
17 American Robin
6 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Mockingbird
16 European Starling
2 Song Sparrow
2 Northern Cardinal
10 Common Grackle
1 Baltimore Oriole
7 American Goldfinch
8 House Sparrow

Migrants at Burnt Mills Dam - 2012-08-19 08:17

A few warblers and other migrants this morning at Burnt Mills Dam, off Columbia Pike. More to follow :)

chlorophonia
2012-08-19 08:17
US-MD-Silver Spring-10701 Columbia Pike
Traveling
1.82 km
95 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Overcast, calm, 72 F.

1 Great Blue Heron
1 Black-crowned Night-Heron
1 Mourning Dove
1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo
1 Belted Kingfisher
4 Red-bellied Woodpecker
4 Downy Woodpecker
1 Northern Flicker
5 Eastern Wood-Pewee
1 Great Crested Flycatcher
4 Red-eyed Vireo
1 American Crow
6 Carolina Chickadee
7 Tufted Titmouse
5 White-breasted Nuthatch
5 Carolina Wren
2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
6 American Robin
1 Blue-winged Warbler
2 Northern Parula
1 Chestnut-sided Warbler
1 Magnolia Warbler
1 Black-and-white Warbler
3 American Redstart
1 Canada Warbler
3 Northern Cardinal
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
1 Baltimore Oriole
6 American Goldfinch

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

On a morning visit to Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds, I disturbed this Yellow-crowned Night-Heron that had just captured a crayfish. In short order, the heron swallowed the crayfish, after tossing it in the air a few times to re-position it and crush the carapace.















Complete eBird checklist for the morning:


Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds, Montgomery, US-MD
Aug 4, 2012 7:28 AM - 8:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.51 mile(s)
Comments:     Mostly clear, calm, 87F
Submitted from BirdLog World for iOS, version 1.4.8
28 species

Canada Goose  7
Mallard  17
Great Blue Heron  1
Green Heron  1
Black-crowned Night-Heron  8
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron  1
Mourning Dove  9
Chimney Swift  1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Great Crested Flycatcher  1
Eastern Kingbird  2
American Crow  1
Barn Swallow  13
Carolina Wren  1
American Robin  15
Gray Catbird  6
Northern Mockingbird  1
European Starling  5
Song Sparrow  6
Northern Cardinal  2
Common Grackle  2
Baltimore Oriole  1
American Goldfinch  4
House Sparrow  11

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

More suburban surprises

Another stop by the Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds mid-morning produced a Solitary Sandpiper! Wonder what I'll miss while I'm gone over the next couple of weeks...





Full eBird checklist:


chlorophonia
2012-08-03 10:25
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.00 km
42 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Mostly clear, calm, 84F

13 Canada Goose
14 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Green Heron
1 Black-crowned Night-Heron
1 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
2 Turkey Vulture
1 Osprey
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
1 Solitary Sandpiper
4 Mourning Dove
10 Chimney Swift
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Great Crested Flycatcher
1 Eastern Kingbird
2 Blue Jay
1 American Crow
6 Barn Swallow
2 Carolina Wren
9 American Robin
1 Gray Catbird
11 European Starling
3 Song Sparrow
3 Northern Cardinal
1 Common Grackle
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
6 American Goldfinch
6 House Sparrow

Heron show in Wheaton

I stopped by the Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds on Dennis Avenue today, in the hope of photographing one of the beavers I've seen there recently. Sadly, no beaver today, but there was a good selection of herons on  display. In addition to the half-dozen or so Black-crowned Night-Herons, Great Blue, Green and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were also present. Here's a selection of quick snaps:

Great Blue Heron



Green Heron



Black-crowned Night-Herons





A Variegated Fritillary was a nice bonus



Full checklist, via eBird:


2012-08-02 07:56
Wheaton Branch Stormwater Ponds
Traveling
1.09 km
66 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Clear, calm, 89F

13 Canada Goose
17 Mallard
2 Great Blue Heron
1 Green Heron
6 Black-crowned Night-Heron
1 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
1 Black Vulture
1 Turkey Vulture
10 Mourning Dove
4 Chimney Swift
1 Belted Kingfisher
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Eastern Phoebe
1 Eastern Kingbird
2 American Crow
13 Barn Swallow
1 Tufted Titmouse
4 Carolina Wren
1 House Wren
31 American Robin
1 Gray Catbird
1 Northern Mockingbird
2 European Starling
8 Song Sparrow
6 Northern Cardinal
1 Red-winged Blackbird
4 Brown-headed Cowbird
7 American Goldfinch
19 House Sparrow