Scarlet Tanager

I am linking up with World Bird Wednesday  and Nature Notes


The Scarlet Tanager is my bird this week. Hubby and I hear them often above our heads while we are walking on the fireroads around our house and neighborhood. The Scarlet Tanager is a breeding bird here in Maryland and they are nesting right here at the watershed...the woods surrounding our house.

The male is a gorgeous red with black wings and tail.  They nest in deciduous and mixed woods. The female is an olive with brownish wings. The juvenile male has the coloring like the female but with black wings. Their song is one I recognize each year when they return to my woods. Definitely one of the more colorful birds I see and another one of my favorite summer birds.

To see more beautiful birds please visit World Bird Wednesday   and  Nature Notes

Thanks to Springman the host of World Bird Wednesday and thanks also to Michelle the host of Nature Notes.
Also, thank you for stopping by to see my bird and photos. I appreciate your visits and comments. Hope the rest of your week is great...Happy Birding!!

Birding the Hemlock Gorge

On Sunday, hubby and I took a hike around the Hemlock Gorge. This area is known for its large beautiful hemlock trees. The river that flows thru the Hemlock Gorge ends up in the top part of our reservoir. During our loop drive back to our house we stop and took a look over the bridge that is when I spotted the Hooded Merganser couple. It was a quiet day for the birds. These Hooded Mergansers were the easiest birds for me to spot. Usually I see a kingfisher in this area but it was not there on Sunday.

  The Hemlock Gorge loop trail take us past an an old cemetary where the Hoffman family are buried. The Hoffmans were the first paper makers in the state of Maryland. Mr Hoffman died in 1811. I was told the small maker stones in front are actually makers for the servants.

             The trail takes us along the river and the pretty hemlock trees.

I am linking up with 2sweetnsaxy's Watery Wednesday and Susan's Outdoor Wednesday. Thanks to these wonderful host and thanks for stopping by to see my post.