Sunday, November 11, 2012

Birding Fort McHenry, Baltimore

Hello, I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday.

 HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY weekend!


I have been reading recently on my birding listserve that Snow Buntings were being seen at Fort McHenry in Baltimore. I have only seen the Snow Buntings in flight along the Delaware shores so I figured this was my chance to see them on the ground and a little closer. So hubby and I drove to Baltimore picked hubby's cousin and we all went to enjoy the great weather and a walk around Fort McHenry.  Well, I am sure everyone knows I am really into birds could not pass up such a great opportunity to see the beautiful Snow Buntings and unbelievably it was hubby's cousins first time inside the Fort. I am happy to report finding these two Snow Buntings was so easy and I have to thank the nice birder that found them and reported seeing them. Seeing the Snow Buntings made my weekend.




A hazy view of the Francis Scott Key bridge seen from Fort McHenry. The Fort was where the Star Spangled Banner our national anthem was inspired and written by Francis Scott Key during the bombardment of the Fort McHenry.

One of the two Snow Buntings that we saw at Fort McHenry.


The birds were on a walkway that is close to the waters edge. Many people were walking and jogging right by them and they did not seem bothered by people at all.


Looking up on the hill from the walkway we could see the large canons that were used during the War of 1812.

Inside the Fort, people were gathering to listen to a local band playing and celebrating the Veteran's Day holiday. After our walk around Fort McHenry we made the short drive back to hubby's cousins place, parked our car and walk over to the Baltimore Harborplace for lunch at Bubba Gumps.

Just outside the restaurant we saw this visiting tall ship from Norway, what a beautiful tall ship. The harborplace was crowded mainly due to the fantastic weather we were having. What a great day! I hope everyone had a great weekend.

To see more wonderful photos and mosaics please visit Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday
 Thanks to Mary of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia and Sandy .  Thanks also for stopping by to see my post.  I wish everyone a happy week!


59 comments:

  1. i love their array of colors! so pretty! glad you found them!

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  2. HI Eileen...Fabulous girl...added bonus to the trip!! I haven't gotten to see one sitting still...they usually just all go at once in a flock ! : )
    Love that tall ship, it is a beauty !!
    Grace

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  3. Gorgeous photos of the Snow Buntings, Eileen! Such subtle colors! You are so lucky to get that close. Love the seascape too. Makes me long to live closer to the ocean.

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  4. Beautiful photos, Eileen. The snow buntings are so cute. Great place to spend Veterans' Day. xo

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  5. oh those snow buntings are beautiful!!

    and i love that tall, stately ship!!

    sounds like my kinda day!!

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  6. Cute little birds glad you found them. great captures :)

    Saun

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  7. Very cool photos! Congrats on finding some buntings sitting still for you- they are really adorable. Great post!

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  8. Outstanding photos --like all the color.

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  9. The snow buntings are such pretty birds - with so many different shades blended perfectly.
    I love the tall ships - so elegant and graceful.
    Beautiful photos.

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  10. The ship from Norway is spectacular! And I love your sweet birds. We are starting to see some migratory birds here in Florida. We had a big flock of chipping sparrows in the feeders this weekend and this morning we saw our first cardinals in awhile. Hugs!

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  11. So cute! I always enjoy your bird photos. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week!

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  12. What an interesting day you had. And you found the buntings. They are so cute.

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  13. Beautiful photos of an amazing place! I love the buntings.

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  14. How gorgeous are those snow buntings?! I guess we've got a snowball's chance in hell of getting them downunder!!!

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  15. Nice pictures of the Snow Buntings - I have only ever seen them on the wing!

    cheers - Stewart M - Australia

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  16. Hi Eileen, Well done on spotting the Snow Bunting. It looks a lot like our Cut-throat finch. Thanks for sharing all the other sights: the tall ship, the memorial on Remembrance Day. Have a great day. Jo

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  17. lovely photos of the snow buntings! I saw my first snow buntings last winter and now i know where they are, I'm hoping to see them this winter too!

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  18. Wow, briliant Snow Bunting shots Eileen. I'm hoping to see one or two this winter but they are fairly scarce about here too. Have a great week too.

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  19. I've never seen snow buntings before. How beautiful they are! It was a beautiful weekend here in NJ, too. Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos, Eileen! xoxo

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  20. Thank you for this wonderful photographic journey!
    Have a great new week!!

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  21. The Snow Bunting, at last, for once we have got them, although it is rare. They are wonderful, and usually they let us get close to them, beautiful Eileen.

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  22. Hi !
    Very nice series. We also winter in the north of France Snow buntings that spend part of the winter with us.
    Have a good week ;-)
    Céline & Philippe

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  23. Hallo Eileen!What a pretty bird !All the places that you visit looks fantastic!Beautiful photos!Thanks for sharing !Have a lovely week!
    Dimi..

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  24. You must have had a lovely day. So many things to do. We normally would not see Snow Buntings until the extreme cold sets in and the they fly in clouds over the fields. I loved the close up of one. I have heard because of the recent hurricanes that migrating birds were thrown off their flight paths. Valerie

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  25. my TWO favorites...the snow buntings & the BIG norway ship. both are beautiful!!
    i love the angle of the ship shot!!
    and the buntings are so cute...cool markings & colors.

    have a great week eileen!

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  26. Your Snow Buntings are very handsome. It looks like you had a great outing.

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  27. Beautifully captured all!! Lovely!

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  28. Wonderful photos, especially of the birds and the ship. Great !

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  29. An interesting day out and what a beautiful close up of the snow bunting.

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  30. The birds are so cute walking along the boardwalk. Have a lively week Eileen

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  31. Lovely colors! A wonderful mix presented.

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  32. What cuddly looking birds - no wonder you enjoy them. I like seeing the fort and the ship, too. Trying to imagine the place in 1812.

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  33. Your bird shots are just beautiful, and I want to hold it! Snow Bunting, what a precious name for such a precious looking bird..

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  34. Those snow buntings are adorable! What lovely shots.

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  35. What a joy to find the snow buntings Eileen. You got some great close-ups of them. Thanks for the tour around For McHenry, another place on my bucket list. Have a great week!

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  36. We are going to be at Fort McHenry the day after Thanksgiving. We adore the American Visionary Art Museum across the street. This is one flag I would remember anywhere. It is so gorgeous flying in the wind atop the hill. Your shots are beautiful. Love all the birds. Your mosaic is wonderful. genie

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  37. Beautiful Pics,looked you had a wonderful day! Glad the birds were there!

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  38. Such pretty little birds! I love the detail on their little wings. How awesome to see the tall ship!

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  39. Wonderful post and those birds are beautiful ~ Fantastic photography ~ (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

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  40. I always love your birds, Eileen, and I particularly love the little Snow Buntings! Looks like such a delightful place and I love the tall ship! Thanks for sharing the beauty and the fun!! Have a great week!

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  41. great shots! i specially love the little birds :)

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  42. Wow Eileen, they are such beautiful little birds. Thanks for sharing. Love that tall ship too!

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  43. Beautiful birds, and I love all that water and history!

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  44. I always enjoy seeing all your photos and hearing about your travels! Thanks for sharing them.
    I have never seen a snow bunting - such a pretty bird.
    Thanks for stopping by and nice comment. Have a great week.

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  45. Beautiful shots. The snow buntings are adorable birds.

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  46. What great up-close photos of the Buntings! This is an area I know well. We once had a condo on the Chesapeake Bay.

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  47. Hi Eileen

    I enjoyed seeing both the fort and the Snow Bunting birds! they look very fluffy as if they were wearing warm winter coats. I hope this doesn't mean we will have a very cold winter?!

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  48. Congratulations on those great photos of the snow buntings. Loved the other pictures as well especially the tall ship.

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  49. The tall ship is very nice and so too your new birdie.

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  50. Oh Eileen, my naturally coloured green eyes, just became greener;') I would so love to see a Snow Bunting, and what a blessing you received! Your images are wonderful! When I go through the Bird Guide books, I am most often drawn to the Bunting, in particular Snow Buntings~

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  51. This sailing ship is beautiful ! You were lucky to have such good weather !

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  52. How Cool! I have never seen snow buntings before!!

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  53. WOW WOW WOW!!! I have yet to see these incredible little bird. You are so lucky.....I can only imagine your excitement at the finds. Nice work. Fresh air, a nice visit....and some incredible birds. Sounds perfect:) Congrats!

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  54. Great series -- what an interesting place to go to see this great bird -- and what a perfect place to post on Veteran's Day (and well enjoyed even coming late to the party).

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  55. I love to combine history and birding! Congrats on your find! Snow buntings are cute!

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  56. I missed the Snow Bunting this year and am leaving Illinois for home in Florida this weekend. Neat bird!

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