Saturday, January 12, 2013

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is on the Atlantic Flyway on the Eastern Shore, and has about 25,000 acres of tidal marshes, marsh meadows, Loblolly Pine stands, and mixed evergreen and deciduos forests.  This time of year it is also home to thousands of Snow and Canada Geese, Tundra Swans, and ducks.  Bald  Eagles and their nests can be spotted from numerous stopping points.  The day we visited this incredible area the weather was sunny and in the low 50's.  We spotted about 36 species along Wildlife Drive and some of the walking trails.
This is at the beginning of Wildlife Drive.  Many Shovelers and Mallards were spotted here.


Across the road we noticed a Great Blue Heron.
Here we are walking along the Marsh Trail.  Off in the distance  was a Common Loon and many Bald Eagles nests.  A few Golden-crowned Kinglets danced among the branches.


View from the observation deck where we found more Bald Eagles and nests.  As we were driving out, we heard  Brown-headed Nuthatches squeaking in the pines above us and saw three of them.
 
Some Lycopodium off the Woods Trail.  A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was found here.
Many small nests like this were hanging over the water.
Tundra Swans - what sweet music they make!
Waves and waves of  Snow Geese passed over us before sundown.  We then drove down to Hooper's Island and finished off our day with a delicious dinner at Old Salty's.  Thanks everyone for a fun day!