Backyard squirrels have a bad rep in my area due to their constant consumption of the expensive bird feed that everyone puts out.  All sorts of technology is utilized to make feeders “squirrel-proof”.  Personally, I like squirrels for their persistent, problem-solving abilities that usually defeat human technology.  This morning I found this guy on my deck railing having a nice, lazy Sunday rest (and likely patiently waiting for me to fill up my bird feeders…).

Hummingbirds arrive in my neighborhood in late May – early June. This male Ruby-throated was perched near my hummingbird feeder which has seen steady visits from a number of males and females this year.  Some of these birds are more tolerant than others of the shutter noise from my camera, such as this male. Others, take flight before the shutter completes its open and close cycle. The hummers typically depart from here around mid-to-late September for their long migration south across the Gulf of Mexico and wintering in southern Mexico and Central America.

I participated in the second annual Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photo Walk today, joining over 30,000 ‘walkers’ around the world who got together in groups up to fifty to spend a couple of hours walking around and taking photographs.  Our group got an early start, meeting at 5:00AM near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.  We couldn’t have asked for a better day to enjoy our walk.  It was a fun experience thanks to our group leader, Bob Blanken.

Group photo by Bob Blanken

Arriving early morning at Huntley Meadows, I found the water  level of the wetlands to be very low right now. This allowed access for this White-tailed Deer, to areas that are typically under water.  It was another good morning of wildlife watching at the park. I saw a number of deer, a cottontail rabbit, dragonflies, snapping turtles, water and green snakes, Killdeer, quite a few Green-backed Herons, along with the usual GBH’s, and Great Egrets. The large variety of birds in the park was impressive.  Butterflies are also increasing in numbers here, such as the Spicebush swallowtail below.

I wanted to catch the sunrise this morning at Great Falls Park on the Virginia side.  I arrived at the park at 5:25AM only to find the gates to the park locked.  I wasn’t aware that the park didn’t open until 6:00AM (but a lesson learned).  Once I was able to get into the park, the sun was already up but I did have the park pretty much to myself.