Red-shouldered Hawk
After being gone for a week, I first checked the Red-shouldered Hawk's nest in my back yard to see if there were any little ones yet. Mama was still sitting on the nest.
Red-shouldered Hawk
I then headed down to the Allen Creek Nature Preserve, stopping first at Sawmill Creek pond #3 where I saw a single Spotted Sandpiper.
Spotted Sandpiper
Then I hiked by Lake Monocan and down to the preserve, but there were just a few common birds such as Carolina Wren and Northern Cardinal, so I headed up along the small pine forest to Sawmill Creek pond #6. The first bird that caught my attention was a Solitary Sandpiper.
Solitary Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
An Osprey flew up from the pond, and circled around. I don't think that it appreciated my disturbing its hunt.
Osprey
Osprey
Osprey
The Osprey settled in a tree across the pond, and then a Great Blue Heron flew up from the end of the pond, and hid in the trees below where the Osprey had landed.
Osprey
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
The Solitary Sandpiper then flew down the pond a short distance and joined a flock of five Spotted Sandpipers. It was unusual to see so many of them there.
Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers
Spotted Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
I continued my hike to Sawmill Creek pond #5 where I saw two more Spotted Sandpipers and a small Wood Duck.
Wood Duck
At Sawmill Creek pond #4 I saw another Wood Duck, and mama and papa Canada Geese taking their young out for swimming lessons.
Wood Duck
Canada Geese
I ended my hike checking the Wood Duck box by the pond that the Eastern Screech Owl had taken - it poked its head out to say hello, and then went back into the box.
Eastern Screech Owl