Chesapeak

Spring is upon us and it seemed a good idea to abandon the local patch for a weekend in search of winter waterfowl and other stuff that will depart soon. I headed out to the Chesapeak with stops at the Home Depot ponds, Schoolhouse ponds, Jug Bay, Chesapeak Bay and North Beach. At Selby's landing we had a distant White-winged Scoter and early Osprey as well as Brown Thrasher. A Northern Harrier was making the rounds and eventually flushed a Snipe for us. Chesapeak Bay proved to be a photographer's paradise with 10 species of waterfowl giving ample opportunity for close-up shots just in the marina - work it baby, ooh yeah! Anyhow, I got some super shots of scaup that allow for lovely side-by-side comparison between Lesser and Greater and yes, I will elaborate. Check out the difference in head shape and the glossy green sheen on the Greater's head, the slightly whiter flanks on the Greater and slightly larger size of the Greater. Wished it was always that easy.

Greater Scaup left, Lesser Scaup right

Arriving at Herrington Harbor it did not take long before we flushed a troop of 15 Purple Sandpipers off the rocks. My highest count for this species ever!

Let's see what's on the patch this weekend!