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Maryland in late May. Last updated: 5/26/2008.
Above and below: An Olive-sided Flycatcher at Sugarloaf Mountain, Frederick Co., Maryland (5/25/2008).
Below: While photographing the Olive-sided, this beautiful male Mourning Warbler began to sing. (Sugarloaf Mountain, Frederick Co., Maryland, 5/25/2008)
Below: A Great Blue Heron roosting along the Patuxent River in Charles Co., Maryland (5/26/2008).
Below: A stunning male Canada Warbler serenades us at Lilypons Water Gardens, Frederick Co., Maryland (5/25/2008).
Below: An Acadian Flycatcher along the C&O Canal at Noland's Ferry, Frederick Co., Maryland (5/25/2008).
Below: This breeding plumage Dunlin is a mega shorebird in Washington Co., Maryland (5/25/2008).
Below: OK, this is just awesome. My friend Tom Feild and I were having a drink in my yard after a great day of kayaking and birding, and we were discussing how strange it is that people almost never report finding roosting nighthawks in Maryland. Literally within minutes, this Common Nighthawk flew across the yard and landed in one of our oaks. We couldn't believe it. (Rockwood Beach, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, 5/26/2008)
Below: As we watched and I clicked away excitedly, a Common Grackle made it known that the nighthawk wasn't welcome on this particular branch, so the nighthawk flew across the yard and chose another perch.
Below: It's so rare we get to see these creatures close or sitting still. Here's a zoomed image to show more details. The buffy throat and fairly buffy-colored belly make this bird a female. The placement of the white bar in the primaries is far enough up the wing that we can feel confident ruling out Lesser Nighthawk.
Below: A male Northern Parula at Weinberg Park in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/22/2008).
Below two: A Prairie Warbler at Soldier's Delight NEA, Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/23/2008).
Below two: A male Blue-gray Gnatcatcher inspects a trespasser in his domain, Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/23/2008).
Below: An American Redstart at Weinberg Park in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/23/2008).
Below: A Common Nighthawk hunts over the serpentine barrens at Soldier's Delight NEA, Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/23/2008). The strong white throat coloration means this bird is a male. He was also doing the cool booming call while performing courtship displays to a female.
Below: A male Common Yellowthroat in Carroll Co., Maryland (5/23/2008).
Below: A Red-eyed Vireo at Weinberg Park in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/23/2008).
Below: A male Eastern Towhee at Soldier's Delight NEA, Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/23/2008).
Below: A female Eastern Towhee prepares to feast upon a pillbug she's found while foraging on the forest floor (Carroll Co., Maryland, 5/23/2008).
Below: An Osprey strikes a pose at Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/18/2008).
Below two: A Willet on the beach at Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/18/2008). This is a rare sighting here, particularly in the spring.
Below: Baby Wood Ducks sneak away at Patuxent Research Refuge, P.G. Co., Maryland (5/18/2008).
Below: A Seaside Sparrow hides behind thick grasses at Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/18/2008). Fortunately it was completely unfamiliar with shallow depth-of-field photography.
Below: An American Beaver on Tuckahoe Creek on Maryland's Eastern Shore (5/17/2008).
Below: An immature male American Redstart molting into adult plumage (Sandy Point SP, Maryland, 5/18/2008). It's really interesting to think that every adult male redstart we've seen looked like this once.
Below: An unexpected Bonaparte's Gull on the beach at Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/18/2008).
Below: A molting Ring-billed Gull at Sandy Point SP, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/18/2008).
Below: A Red-bellied Turtle sunbathes along Tuckahoe Creek, Maryland (5/17/2008).
