Sunday, October 16, 2011

Birding the Swan Creek Wetlands

Lots of fun linky's this week check them all out Mosaic Monday and Mellow Yellow Monday ,  Nature Footstep Waters and Our World Tuesday 

The Swan Creek Wetlands are located adjacent to land that the Port of Baltimore is using for their placement of dredged material not far from the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The wetland consist of 100 acres for wildlife habitat. Visiting hours are strictly enforced and are only on  Monday-Friday 7am-3:30pm, visitors must sign in the MES office registration book.  My friend from the birding club and I took the opportunity to visit on our Monday off for the Colombus Day holiday. A Nelson's Sparrow was being reported seen at the wetland area near some cattails. We missed seeing this bird or we could have seen such a brief glimpse of it hopping around the cattails and grasses we could not positively id this sparrow. There were other sparrows being seen like the Song Sparrow and Swamp Sparrows.


Monarchs have been migrating and I was lucky to catch this one perched on these yellow wildflowers.



It seem appropriate that a place called Swan Creek Wetland there should be a few swans.


In my mosaic above I have the Mute swans, Little Blue Herons and a Great Egret, a shot of the Key Bridge., another Little Blue and Egret, a Song Sparrow and a Monarch.



I was amazed at how many of these yellow Sulfar's were flying about.  They moved around quickly but, these two landed on the ground in front of me. Not the best photo but you can see the dark outline on the edge and the black dot on its wing.


In this mosaic I am showing of the many Buckeye butterflies, more Little Blues, swans, Egret, and a frog.

Above are a couple of my favorite Little Blue Herons with a Great Egret.



The Little Blue herons are gorgeous birds and I love their color.



If this frog was not sitting on the leaf, it would blend in perfectly with the ground.  Swan Creek Wetland is a great place for birding. While we were there we heard two Virginia Rails and a Sora calling. It would have been cool to see the Sora in the open. I usually only add bird on my life list when I see them, just hearing them is not enough for me. A list of the birds we did see include the Little Blue herons, Osprey, Great Egrets, Mute Swans, Song Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows, Carolina Wren, Marsh Wren, Carolina Chickadees and a very noisy Red Shoulder Hawk.

To see more wonderful mosaics please visit Mary's Mosaic Monday  and for more Mellow Yellows please visit Drowsey Monkeys Mellow Yellow Monday. Also, this will be my first entry for Nature Footstep Waters . Click for more from Our World Tuesdays. Thanks to these wonderful host for creating these fun memes. Also, thank you for stopping by to see my posts. I hope everyone has a safe and happy week ahead.

56 comments:

  1. Hi Eileen Sweetie...
    Oh what a gorgeous share today. I absolutely love seeing the many colored butterflies. They are always so beautiful and carefree when they flitter about. Makes my heart SO happy.

    Loved seeing the swans. How gorgeous they are. And the egrets blue heron. My how lcuky you are to be graced by these beautiful creatures, right down to the ribbit, ribbit of the little frog. Love it.

    Thank you for sharing sweet friend. Hope you have a gorgeous week. Many country hugs and much love, Sherry

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  2. I am blown away by all your photos!
    What an amazing Nature trip. I really liked the butterflies,little blue herons...and the frog resting on the fall leave.
    Cool post!

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  3. that frog is a great catch! love the buckeye and the swans. so beautiful!

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  4. HI Eileen...Faboulous post with so may lovely photo's !!
    The frog on the leaf is to funny...
    Love the butterfly shots's!!

    I liked your mosaic Monday!!
    Grace

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  5. Oh my but your butterflies are beautiful!!! And such a shade of blue you herons parade! Lovely!!! Cathy

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  6. Beautiful and amazing! The Blue Herons are such a unique find...they make a great picture and I can't believe you saw the toad...it was completely camouflaged.

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  7. Beautiful place for birding. The butterfly is awesome.

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  8. You had a very successful walk. Lovely mosaics. All the butterflies have left here along with most of the summer birds. The juncoes arrived a few days ago, winter is just around the corner.

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  9. Stunning photos of butterflies and birds - and that one frog nestled in a leaf. He looks cozy.

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  10. The Little Blue Herons are beautiful, and they're birds I've never seen. I also loved the yellow butterfly!

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  11. Eileen these images are gorgeous!!

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  12. What a fantastic set of photos, especially that first one of the Monarch!

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  13. A wonderful place and great photos!
    Markus

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  14. Loved seeing your photos. It was like going on a nature walk! That frog was really hidden in plain sight. Nancy

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  15. I know I probably say the same thing every time I visit, but it is heartfelt. Fabulous photos showing some lovely wildlife. The Blue Herons are magnificent and so is that shot of the Monarch.

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  16. Hi Eileen,
    I really enjoyed our visit to the wetlands this morning.
    The butterflies are beautiful. Although we often see white herons on our Sunday walks through the marais I've never seen a blue heron before.
    Happy MM
    Maggie

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  17. Really lovely photos. The blue herons look fantastic, have never seen them in real life. And all the beautiful butterflies.....

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  18. The Little Blue Herons are my favourites, they are gorgeous.

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  19. Gorgeous captures Eileen. Love the blue herons. Beautiful!

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  20. Wow that frog was very well camouflaged! Even after you said it was on the leaf it took me a couple seconds to find.

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  21. lovely images. We have a wet land in our town - called "The Big Swamp". It was a wonderful place to go and wander along the paths and view the bird life.
    Thanks for sharing with us, and have a wonderful week.

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  22. the blue herons are beautiful as is the butterfly
    but then so are the swans
    I guess I'm saying all your shots are gorgeous :)

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  23. Wow I thought it's all mud there is a frog sitting on that leaf hehe looking closely I see his eyeballs lol!! I like the photos of the birds and the butterflies Eileen. thanks for sharing!

    Farmers Market Galore

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  24. Hi Eileen, What wonderful pictures! I love the shot of that frog. Nature is just grand! Have a splendid day!

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  25. Oh such gorgeous mosaics! You can certainly tell the seasons are changing.
    Have a great week Eileen!

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  26. Those little blue herons are such a beautiful shade of blue...ours here in Florida are more gray, I think! Beautiful photos, my friend! ♥

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  27. That monarch shot is priceless!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  28. you have so many beautiful butterflies. Ours are gone for now. Not many flying anymore.

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  29. Such gorgeous captures for the day, Eileen! I do love the beautiful butterflies! And what a lovely world you have! Thanks for sharing it with us today! Hope you have a wonderful week!

    Sylvia

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  30. HI Eileen. What a beautiful post.I love that blue heron, never seen it before and the butterflies are beautiful. I went to a butterfly park just a few weeksago when in Spain,I made lots of photo's but haven;t made a post of it yet. Mustn't forgetit.
    Have a nice week.

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  31. Another great day birding, Eileen. It's a good thing that little frog is so well camouflaged, Those herons and egrets would love to make a meal of it.

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  32. The butterflies are so tame for you to photograph. A very nice place for birding, and I saw so many different kinds. Never thought that it is a frog.

    The group of conservationists and parks paid a hefty sum of $37M and a cost of $8m to renovate, however, for the place being used as the shooting place for the Big Loser, then I say it is income generating.

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  33. It looks like a great place to visit. You have a really beautiful series of photos.

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  34. gorgeous photos. the monarch is perfectly captured.

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  35. Beautiful butterflies, Eileen, and you're right, the blue herons are a wonderful color.
    What truly amazed me today, however, was that frog. He is perfectly camouflaged for those rocks under the water there. Nature is full of lovely surprises.

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  36. Absolutely beautiful photos, especially the one of the monarch. I've never had any luck with butterflies.

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  37. Hi Eileen,
    Love all of your photos! Especially the frog on the leaf.

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  38. Lovely shots! And wonderful clarity in that first one with the butterfly.

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  39. I almost did not notice the frog. Great series of shots.

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  40. Love that butterfly shot Eileen,.


    Late visiting from MYM, hope you can still visit the Mellow Yellow at my page when you get a chance.

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  41. Eileen, What amazing photos you captured--the butterflies, herons, swans, and egrets, as well as that cute little frog--all marvelous shots. Have a lovely week. Mickie :)

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  42. Wonderful photos! Last time I had an opportunity to get shot of a butterfly it posed and was so patient with me as I fumbled to get my camera in position. It must have thought it gave me all of the time in the world.. (:

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  43. What an absolutely exquisite capture of the Monarch butterfly - the intensity and clarify of colours and lines is fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

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  44. Wonderful photos from the butterflies, birds, animals... Amazing !

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  45. Thank you for visiting my site and commenting.
    I am glad that I came to your blog, your photos are really first-rate pictures.
    I surely be back :)

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  46. I loved the pictures of the birds and the butterflies! So interesting...totally my kind of place!:)

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  47. Beautiful! Nature can be so soothing... Thanks for sharing!

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  48. Hi Eileen! Your photos and mosaics are perfect - such beautiful surroundings! I know I felt better when we were in Florida. Maybe one day we can move there, or somewhere else warm! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your sweet comments on my photos.
    xoxo
    Joy

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  49. Thank you for taking us along on your fabulous birding adventure in Swan Creek Wetlands. Your photo mosaics are beautiful! So many lovely sights. Stunning butterfly and Little Blue Egrets. Love the frog on the leaf. A joy to visit your wonderful blog!

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  50. There are so many wonderful things to see in wetlands! Wonderful!

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  51. Wonderful place Eileen -- that's so great when they make an area like this into a bird friendly place and then open it to the public. You saw some wonderful birds (and butterflies). I cannot imagine being able to ID a bird from its call if you'd never seen it. I am lucky if I can recognize a call from a backyard, everyday bird!

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  52. That butterfly is gorgeous- it's not easy getting them to pose! I see them and the second image is just fabulous!
    We have the Monarch too, so I planted a Crown flower tree where we buried our love bird (outside our bay window). It's suppose to be the only tree they'll lay their eggs on here? I can't wait..
    The Blue Heron's are striking! I don't think I would of seen the frog unless I focused on him with my eyeballs (lol)
    Enjoy your day-

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  53. Eileeninmd,
    Your world is stunning. The wetlands are heaven for wild birds! I have not seen Blue herons. What a graceful color they have. The life of wild birds must be very tough, but always they soothe and make me feel comfortable. I hope these kinds of wetlands will remain intact forever. I love all of your photos. So beautiful!
    Best wishes,
    keiko

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Have a happy day, Eileen

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