Greenbury Point: Restored!

I've got great news: They (someone with a large tractor) have done some fine work out on the very tip of Greenbury Point recently. I've not been out to the radio towers in some time, but it would appear that the meadows have been restored! There are a few patches of trees and the rest has been mowed, hacked and plowed down to what might well become a great grassy habitat.If they were going to build something, they would've torn everything out, but this looks like it was done with nature in mind, not buildings. I can't wait to see some positive results, migrationally-speaking. I realize that this point just North of Annapolis doesn't sit too far out into the bay, but perhaps this might be a nice spot to hit at first light in order to see what might fall out of the sky?With the few patches of trees, picking things out is a lot easier than before with the overgrowth of weeds, snags, vines and tangles.

As I was about to call it a day, I noticed a small hawk flying low over in the mulching facility. It perched on some mulching machine. I walked over and got some photos. Then I walked closer and got some more. And then, I walked right under the raptor. The hawk really could have cared less. After a few minutes, I found myself within feet of a perched Cooper's Hawk. The bird didn't mind at all that I was right below it, taking photo after photo with my camera (not my iPhone). I actually had to back up to keep the bird in focus. The bird finally got bored (I was almost bored too), and flew over to the edge of the field. It looked as if it was still looking for an evening snack.

On the way home, I checked the marina and happily found an adult and a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron.

Without further rambling, on Monday evening I observed...

Canada Goose 17
Mallard 2
Double-crested Cormorant 37
Great Blue Heron 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Laughing Gull 3
Ring-billed Gull 7
Herring Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Caspian Tern 1
ROYAL TERN 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Phoebe 1
RED-EYED VIREO 1
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 2
Fish Crow 4
Carolina Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 9
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 18
HERMIT THRUSH 1
Gray Catbird 10
Northern Mockingbird 12
Brown Thrasher 5
European Starling 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 13
Palm Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 4
Eastern Towhee 8
Song Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 4
LINCOLN'S SPARROW 1
White-throated Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 12
House Finch 1

Please enjoy a few photos from my CLOSE encounter with a COOPER'S HAWK, as well as a few other avian species.

Enjoy your week,

Dan