I’m up in Virginia visiting my parents, and so my father and I decided to visit the Occoquan Bay NWR, which is a wonderful area to visit. We walked a couple miles from the parking lot to the Potomac River and back, and saw some pretty fun things.
We heard several Yellow-billed Cuckoos there, and we saw a couple of them. One in particular came out in the open a few times to give me my best photos of the species. We also heard an Acadian Flycatcher, and probably a couple of them, and one came out in the open long enough for a couple photos.
Near the shore of the Potomac we found a couple Prothonotary Warblers, right in the same place I’d seen them here last July. These are one of my favorite warblers. I love their “sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet” song.
By the parking lot we found a couple Yellow-breasted Chats. They were here when we arrived, but it was too cloudy for presentable photos. When we returned, though, the sun had come out and allowed for something, at least, even though I couldn’t walk to where the sun was behind me. I’ve seen these chats a few times before, but I’ve never had the opportunity to take photos, so even though I couldn’t get the sun behind me for this photo, I’m glad just to have this.
Scott Simmons
Scott Simmons, based in Florida, is a lover of nature, landscape, and wildlife photography. Scott became interested in photography in 2001 when he was given his first SLR camera. When he acquired a telephoto lens, he became progressively more interested in birds and other wildlife. Scott enjoys learning about bird habitats and behavior, striving always to take images that are both beautiful and interpretive. Scott believes photography is a great vehicle to help others to appreciate the wonder for the stuff of earth.
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