Park Eagle Nest, April 21 PM

At the end of our Field Trip day, this was the view at the nest.

Here's Flipper and Flapper...

Close up of adult below nest....

Park Eagle Nest, April 25

Went to nest at 2PM, and this is what we saw.

At 5 PM, adult was far behind nest, near the woods.
Then adult was seen sitting here when we were leaving. Had to stop, of course! 1 big bobblehead...
2 for sure....THREE!!!! ---Flipper, Flapper, & Floppy!

OK Family 4-19

Eagle, April 14, and Muskrat Nibbling Greens

This is how we see Mom eagle lately.....

Then she stood up taller to look around.Although too quick to capture, twice at the left side of the nest, small brown wingtips were seen! Someone or two is flapping now!
Where Black Walnut Creek meets the Patuxent River, a muskrat was seen. "Hmmm..what's this?"
"Yum, yum! I love my veggies!"

Schoolhouse Pond April 14, Part I

Schoolhouse Pond is in the center of Upper Marlboro, MD, next to the County Administration Building. There are several resident waterfowl, but it was very surprising to see a "domestic" coot!!

Some geese made use of their "Goose Xing" sign (behind us) to cross from the CAB to the Pond. The car on right did come to a complete stop as they crossed.
Marching toward the Pond.....

Schoolhouse Pond II

Was surprising to see a cormorant on the wood duck box.....

... and two more swimming.
Beavers also live here. There is a walkway of boardwalk and an asphalt path all around the pond. Friends have seen two large and two small beavers swimming under the boardwalk.

A great egret!"Well, hello. Fancy meeting you here, Fancy!"

Ospreys at Patuxent River Park

This osprey was seen a lot, perching in tree on bank above the new nest platform.

Looks like he's moving in there.
More sticks and a mate!
The nest cam ospreys....
At the boat ramp one afternoon, osprey was perched on fishnet post near his nest. Another osprey had flown downriver with a fish in foot, then made a U turn. He was being chased by yet another osprey!

Eagles at Patuxent River Park, March 17 & 31

Unseen male eagle was in a tree above our heads and then flew WAY past the nest to a dead tree.

Here's a little bit blurry cose up...
March 31 AM & PM...

Can see more of the female now, indicating she's not brooding eggs---there must be eaglets!

Pic taken by a Park visitor...

Woodies and Swamp!

Here is Mr. Red-bellied Woodpecker who has been coming to our suet at home all winter. We usually have many more .

This female arrived a couple weeks ago.
Took a walk on a loop at the Park called Black Walnut Creek. Skunk cabbage is sprouting fine.

At the end of the creek where it empties into the river, it was more of a LAKE!!!

You might spot a muddy ridge toward the back section of boardwalk. The beaver has been busy!!

Water and Land Fowl

On April 1 & 3, a new duck appeared at the Chelsea "farmhouse" office pond. He's a ring-necked duck and is migrating back to Canada or N. US. There was a gal pal with him, but she turned out to be a female merganser.

Finally got to see a Northern (yellow-shafted) Flicker up close as they hopped in the front yard of Chelsea office. The males have the black whisker stripe, or malar, but both sexes have the other black and red markings.

A friend got this pic of a Tundra Swan on 3-19 on the Patuxent in So. MD. The bill is not solid black yet, indicating it's a young adult. A coot is in front of him, to left in picture.