Patuxent River park, Jug Bay and Canada Geese in Maryland...That's My World

For more That's My world photos please click on my link. Thanks to the team of Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy and Louise.
Also, my first Motion Thurday post a little late or a little early see my last three photos on this post of the deer.

My hubby and I spent the day at the Patuxent River Park canoeing, hiking and doing the drive tour to the Wildlife Sanctuary. The Jug Bay Natural area is known for some of the best birding in Maryland. We rented a canoe from the Patuxent River Park and spent about an hour and half on the river. They also rent Kayaks. You can pick up a water trail map at the visitors center. Between the river and the sanctuary we must have seen hundreds of Canada Geese. They were in the sky and on the river, just about everywhere we looked.

We watched hundred of Seagulls on the river and a few Great Blue herons, two Eagles were circling above, Cormorants were flying low over the river,  a flock of green Winged Teals flying near the river. I was also able to watch a Northern Harrier flying low over the marshes. I did not take my camera in the canoe but it was a neat experience to see the birds from the canoe. To see a Great Blue Heron at this low level was cool. The Heron was staring at us while we were enjoying watching him or her.

At the end of the drive tour we saw hundred of Canada Geese landing at the Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary. The corn and millet fields help to attract the Canada Geese, some are migrating and some stay thru the winter months.

Do you think Geese make music? I am not sure the sounds I hear coming from them would be called music.

I am not sure if the hundreds of Geese landing spooked these deer but five or six deer ran across the field and then across the road in front of our car.


Here is a link for Motion Thursday. To see more Motion photos click here: http://motionthursday.wordpress.com/



 

This was our second time canoeing this year and we have decided we both enjoy canoeing. The season may be over this year it was a little chilly on the river with the wind blowing. But we are already making plans for next spring to canoe on the Pocomoke River on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  I heard the Pokomoke in the spring is great for warbler sightings.

Rocky Gap and my first canoe trip

Scenic Sunday, you can click on the Scenic Sunday link to see more wonderful scenes.








I can not imagine how I got as old as I am and never been canoeing. Not that I am saying I am old because I am NOT. Maybe, because I was scared silly about the canoe overturning? Well, today I canoed for the first time at Rocky Gap State Park in Maryland. At the boat rental building you had your choice of a canoe, one person kayak, two person kayak and a paddle boat. They also had a pontoon boat ride. We rented the canoe for an hour and we like it so much we stayed out for two hours. We canoed our way around much of the lake and into some coves. There was one time my hubby wanted to hand me the binoc's and I got a little over excited about the canoe rocking but all went well and we didn't take a dip in the lake. Big sigh of relief!

I was hoping to see birds around the shoreline but all we saw were some Mallard ducks. I could hear some Chickadees, Catbirds and some Nuthatches in the woods along the shore. No matter where I am I can always see some Turkey Vultures flying in the skies above.



We must have seen 30-40 mallard ducks along the lake shore.



We were not the only people with the idea of going to Rocky Gap State park. I think with it being Labor Day weekend a lot of people had the same idea of enjoying the park, lake, cookouts and the good weather. After canoeing we walked part of the lake loop trail and we could see good views of the beach and scenery around the resort.









Along the lake loop they had an avairy and being a birder I had to stop and check it out. They had a Black Vulture, two Red Tailed Hawks, Two Barred Owls, Two Barn Owls, a Screech Owl and a Great Horned Owl. I wanted to take pic's but the wired cages made it difficult. I did try a shot of the Barn Owls only because I just love Owls.





The resort had a very nice garden for the birds and butterflies. I noticed many berry bushes and butterfly bushes planted and a pond. There were hummingbird feeders and regular bird feeders. I thought it was cool that the resort had such a nice wildlife garden.







Now, that I have been canoeing and can feel safe, I'm sure hubby and I will be back to Rocky Gap.

More senery pic's from Rocky gap