Occoquan Bay NWR Woodbridge, Va. March 22+23, 2009

I arrived at Occoquan Bay a little before noon--and observed the place just bursting with activity. I didn't know that osprey had already migrated up from way south--they were flying around, sitting in trees, and managing their nests. And, a hawk put on a performance for me, just 3 and then 10 feet away. I was so taken back by all of what I saw, I used the OB NWR bird list to identify all of the birds I saw. The appears below; the pictures follow.

I had so much fun that I took my wife down there Monday morning, just after sun rise. That is when we observed the snow geese flying overhead, plus the smaller hawk just outside the NRW's gate.

Seen at Occoquan Bay NWR

• Snow Geese, flying in formation overhead.
  
• Mallards
  
• Double-crested Cormorant
  
• Black-crowned Night-Heron (lurking in marsh grass; I startled it on foot)
  
• Osprey, about a dozen and a half
  
• Bald eagles (a pair flew right over my head)
  
• Red Shouldered Hawk (put on a show for me)
  
• Northern Flicker
  
• Eastern Kingbird
  
• Purple Martins (by their houses)
  
• Chickadees
  
• Carolina Wren
  
• Eastern Bluebird--into their mating colors now
  
• Northern Mockingbird
  
• Cedar Waxwings [in a cedar tree!]
  
• Song Sparrow
  
• White-throated Sparrow
  
• Northern Cardinal
  
• Red-winged Blackbird
  
• Great Blue Heron [spooked it twice in two days in the marsh along the Driving Tour]
  
• American Black Ducks [towards Belmont Bay]
  
• Numerous turtles sunning themselves
  
• Eastern Phoebe
  

In-bound Snow Geese, in formation

Almost overhead

Directly Overhead

Snow Geese just past overhead

Snow Geese Outbound

Snow Geese departing the area

One of many Osprey on a nest

A pair of Osprey on a nest
Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Phoebe
Cedar Waxwings, just after they left a cedar tree
Mature adult bald eagle

Great Blue Heron in a tree

Cormorants in Belmont Bay

This hawk startled me--just 3' away on the ground
It flew up into a nearby tree and put on a show
I got one more shot, a closeup, before it finally flew away
White Throated Sparrow enjoying a treat

Unknown sparrow-like bird

Turtle by the marsh on Driving Trail
Two turtles swimming in the marsh
Many turtles sunning themselves just past the butteryfly garden
Northern Cardinal
Interesting remnant of wood at the edge of a field
Smaller hawk seen just outside the entrance of the NRW

Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge Wood Marsh Trail February 7 2009

The Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Mason Neck peninsula between Gunston Hall and the Mason Neck State Park. The Wood Marsh is one of two major trails leading to the marshy area and home of the bald eagles. The other trail is the Great Marsh Trail.

My friend Ken and I walked about 3/4 of a mile from the parking lot to the end of the Wood Marsh Trail. We were pleasantly surprised to find a very new covered shelter at the end, replete with benches and a rail to set cameras and binoculars on.

This trip was an experiment for me. Except for the first and last picture, I took all pictures using my Canon XSi's manually focused Live View mode, coupled to a Canon 300mm L IS lens, magnified by a Kenko 2x teleconverter, most taken on a tripod. Even the "action" shots were taken in manual Live View mode.

An interesting evergreen emerging from the leaves.

This was one of a pair of Eastern Bluebirds staying close to the shelter. This is the state an adult is in before they change to the classic blud color.

In a tree at the far edge of the marsh perched three bald eagles: two immature and one adult. Several immature eagles flew around the marsh and overhead while we were there.

After we had been at the shelter for a while, white swams began arriving--noisily!

Two more caught in flight.

Also present in the marsh were a large number of American Black Ducks. They are in the foreground here.
After the bald eagles flew away, a great blue heron began to stalk for fish.
Later we walked to Raccoon Creek beyond the Wood Marsh and found a great blue heron up in a tree!

Interior view of the shelter looking out into the marsh; Ken and I have our cameras set up.