What better can you think of doing than to go on a walk in nature on Earth Day?  I decided to take a hike at the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge near Laurel, MD.  It was a sunny day with temps in the 60's.  (Perhaps Spring is nearing, after a rough start)  The trails included paths through wooded areas and also a circling of a beautiful lake called Cash Lake.

On the trail near the lake I observed a large white bird hovering over the water and then taking a vertical dive into the water to catch a fish.  I asked a few birders along the trail and did some personal research and discovered it was a Caspian Tern.  It was quite interesting to witness the dives.  The bird circled carefully over the water looking for a fish, then dove into the water with a huge splash, quickly returning in flight with a fish in its mouth.  In my research on this bird I learned it is the largest of the Tern family.

It is wonderful to see birds in their habitat and on the wing.  Good luck and Godspeed to Megan as she ventures soon on her "winging" to Buffalo, NY to begin her graduate studies.

Previous totals  30K
Today's total       4K
Final                 34K  (goal 100K)

I passed a  small pond, called Goose Pond.

Cash Lake where the Caspian Tern was spotted

 

A "swinging bridge I crossed over Cash Lake