Dyke Marsh Bird Walk, Sunday, June 10, 2005

Orchard Oriole, Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA. The brick red of the Orchard Oriole is unmistakable.

Baltimore Oriole & nest. Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA. This is a different nest than we saw before.

Yellow-billed cuckoo, Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA. This picture doesn't do this beautiful bird justice, but it was the only chance I got before the cuckoo flew away. We saw a pair.

Monday Morning Bird Walk, Huntley Meadows, Alexandria, VA.

Green Heron, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA. Breakfast. In addition to this beauty and the other birds pictured below, we saw a pileated woodpecker, a redbellied woodpecker, a red-shouldered hawk, three bluebirds, a ruby throated hummingbird, numerous Canada geese and redwinged blackbirds, an Eastern phoebe, cardinals, two killdeer, tree swallows, barn swallows and mallards. The group also saw some American black ducks, which I unfortunately missed! One of my few trips to Huntley without a new bird.

Racoon, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA. On his way to the turtle egg buffet?

Hooded Merganser and babies, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA. We saw three female mergansers and their babies.

Snake, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA.

Snapping Turtle laying eggs, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA. I'm told the racoons are making dinner reservations for the turtle egg buffet as these eggs are being laid.

Eastern Kingbird, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA.

Common Yellowthroat, Huntley Meadows, Alexandria, VA. We got a long good look at this yellowthroat.

Turtles, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA. No more room at the inn....

Red Fox, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA. "Here's looking at you, kit." There have been reports of lots of red fox activity at Huntley Meadows. (I stole the bad pun from a fellow birdwatcher on this morning's walk.)

Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA. June 5, 2005

Tree Swallow, Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA. The same tree swallow nest in the following picture.

Tree Swallow, Dyke Marsh, Alexandria, VA. Fred and I were hiking Dyke Marsh with our friend Blake Sullivan and came upon this dead tree hosting a tree swallow nest. Here the male is launching himself out to get more dinner for the babies.

White Breasted Nuthatch, backyard feeder, Alexandria, VA. I'm still trying to get a good nuthatch picture. This is my best one yet.

Downy Woodpecker, backyard feeder, Alexandria, VA. This male downy brought young downies to the feeder for several days. The young downy would squeal away until the male fed him. Apparently the male downy raises the kids.