Birding at Mariner Point Park
My first of hopefully many birding trips with the Anne Arundel Bird Club!
Ever since springing for the membership back in November, I’d been meaning to join the Anne Arundel Bird Club on one of their trips. After holing up for most of the winter, I decided this was the weekend to tag along on a three-hour excursion at Mariner Point Park, and boy am I so glad I did!
The monthly newsletter stated that the locals often left bird feed around the park, and the birds were extremely socialized as a result. To my delight, only a few minutes down the trail a white-throated sparrow posed just a few feet away from our group! These little guys are always nice to see; they were one of the first birds I ever photographed!
I didn’t have to wait too much longer for my next surprise: a whole swarm of red-winged blackbirds in the trees above and frequenting the fence posts that lined the trail. I stopped to take several pictures of a female, who wasn’t perturbed in the least!
I’d never seen one before; at first glance I thought it was an immature starling!
A few feet further and one of the members stopped to point out a rarity of the mammalian variety - black squirrels! Apparently they’re only found in a few places around here, and this park is one of them!
After admiring the squirrels, I was met with even more red-winged blackbirds; I trailed behind the group, in awe of them and how close they were!
Of course, with a glaring look like that, I was sure to keep my distance.
We stopped off at a dock and saw an osprey take a hurtling dive into the lake! Not only that, he decided on a nearby branch on which to enjoy his early morning snack.
We walked on and were instantly immersed in some avian drama: a grackle encroaching on a red-winged blackbird’s feeding spot!
A mallard pair meandered across our way, stopping to look adorable!
Look at that smile!
While the group scoured a nearby creek for the elusive wood duck, I turned towards the pond and snapped a few pictures of a new bird for me: a green-winged teal. Such vibrant colors; I just love seeing all the different kinds of ducks!
At this point, we were nearing the end of the outing, but we couldn’t leave without another visit from our friend, the white-throated sparrow. This one was startled by a sudden wind!
He never quite recovered his composure.
Finally, on the last turn towards the parking lot, our guide pointed out a hole in a nearby tree, and a red-bellied woodpecker peeping his head out!
He came out to survey his hard work. He seemed quite proud and received dutiful applause.
I was so glad I made the trek out! Besides getting the chance to see all these great birds up close, I was able to meet and geek out about birds with some of the sweetest and most down-to-earth people. I can’t wait to join them on future trips!