Conowingo – May 2017

We had more success at Conowingo in May than we did back in April although we first got there – all I saw were cormorants in the water.

There were no vultures on the high reaches of the dam or birds sitting on the big towers.  It was very windy and I eventually started looking lower on the rocks across the river from our vantage point. It’s a little far away for pictures…but that’s where the birds were. The first group I saw included a Great Blue Heron and some pigeons (the pigeons are usually all over the dam but seemed to prefer the rocks on the windy day).

I started taking pictures of all the rocks. How many eagles do you see in this pictures (remember the immature eagles don’t have white heads and tail feather yet)?

I count 7 Bald Eagles…and a Great Blue Heron and a Cormorant.

Eventually I saw an eagle on one of the towers

And then thought to zoom in to the platform of the tower after remembering someone commenting last month that there was a nest on one of the towers. Sure enough – it looks like there is. Hopefully no one will have to go up there until the eagles are done with the nest for the season.

I took a few none bird pictures as well. This spider web was somewhat damaged by the wind but I was pleased my camera would focus on it. The spider jumped from the web to me while it got the picture! Fortunately, I noticed and managed to get the critter to the ground somewhat close to the web.

I photographed the flowers of the Princess Tree that is growing on the cliff that is across the parking lot from the bird viewing area. These invasive trees are easy to spot this time of year because of the color of the flowers. They grow very fast….and the seeds are dispersed so I seem to see more of them every year.