May 5th, 2016

May 5th, 2016

Today is Thursday, Cinco de Mayo.  We are on the ferry from Lewes, DE crossing the Delaware Bay to Cape May, NJ.  It's 45 degrees with a 20 mph NE wind, mist and clouds.  Thankfully the birds don't seem to care.

Photos are from 5-1-16    Blackwater NWR, Maryland:  We saw 57 bird species on this refuge that was established in 1933 as a refuge for migratory birds, primarily ducks and geese (all have left as of March so we are only seeing Mallard ducks who breed here).  The refuge includes more than 28,000 acres of rich tidal marsh, mixed hardwood and loblolly pine forest, freshwater wetlands  and is one of the chief wintering areas for Canada geese on the Atlantic Flyway (they have all left as well).  It serves as an important resting and feeding area for wintering and migrating waterfowl.  

1.  Drake Mallard not in full breeding plumage

2-4.  Hen Mallards on the wing

5-10.  Ospreys are common on this refuge.  In photos 2905 & 2906 the female with the "necklace" of brown spots is on the right.

Muskrats:  Photo 11

12-14: Muskrat Lodges

These mammals feed on the marsh vegetation and also use it to build dome-shaped lodges as homes which they enter via underwater tunnels.  These large rodents reproduce rapidly and the young are considered adults in 2 mos.  Mainly nocturnal but on rainy, overcast days like today, they are also active.  Like beavers they can close their lips behind their incisor teeth to harvest food underwater without taking in water.  Breeds in winter or early spring in the North and year-round in the South.  Litter size is 3-8 and the young remain with the parents for a year.

15. Muskrat Facts

16-20.  Know it's a lot of shots of the same bird but we were impressed with the different images as the light changed as we drove about 30 yards past the bird.