Rewards are many

Today was one of the iffy weather days when it is tempting to stay in bed. But I got up and was rewarded. The first stop is at one of my favorite little places in all seasons – Tri-Pond Nature Center. A birder reported a Northern Rough-Winged Swallow there yesterday. I stopped by in the afternoon, got some great photos of other birds, but no Swallows, so I left and 10 minutes later someone else saw them. It’s the way it goes.

I was there early this morning sitting in the fog and mist. I saw the Swallow about 10 minutes after I got there, but the conditions made it almost impossible to get a decent shot of these tiny, fast birds.

After @an hour I went to another of the ponds in the park. I got to witness what I assume was some Bufflehead mating rituals. There was 1 couple, but the male kept making a flying attack on the nearby Ring-necked Ducks (male & female). Ring-necked Ducks are about twice the size of a Bufflehead, but he was undeterred. I don’t think my photos capture the action well, but I tried.

Returning to my original spot and finally got a few usable (not great) photos with the new camera and one with the old one. I also ran into the birder who found it yesterday and we found another – and then there were two.

Swung by the beach on the way home and found an early Snowy Egret hanging out near the road. My second new 2022 bird of the day. Ended the day catching up with my Spark bird - three Greater Yellowlegs on Atlantic Avenue.