The tour began about 7:15am in Crisfield, MD where we boarded the Elizabeth Joy II that took us to Smith Island (about 40 minutes and of course birding along the way). Once at Smith Island we boarded three smaller boats and visited nearby islands (staying in the boats) to see nesting egrets and herons.
Our birding tour guide is Jim Rapp. Jim, an excellent birder and tour guide, identified the birds along the way - Herring Gull, double-crested cormorant, brown pelican, glossy ibis…
Select the image below to enlarge.
ID - AMOY11
ID - HERG43-Herring Gull
ID - 25-BRPE-4-Brown Pelican
Smith Island
Purple Martin Houses - Good for keeping mosquito population down.
Great Egret
Great Egret
Osprey
ID - 25-BRPE - Brown Pelican
ID - 25-BRPE-6
ID - 25-BRPE-8
ID - LBHE35-Little Blue Heron
ID - LBHE37
ID - LBHE38
ID - LBHE41-Little Blue Heron (immature)
ID - AMOY13
ID - AMOY12-American Oyster Catcher
At high tide we headed over to the Brown Pelican nesting colony. We pulled up to the shore in the small boats (we stayed in the boats). After a moment the pelicans settled down and went about their business - feeding, bickering with each other, preening, stretching and even approaching the boat.
This was an incredible experience.
ID - 25-BRPE-10
ID - 25-BRPE-11
ID - 25-BRPE-12
ID - 25-BRPE-13
ID - 25-BRPE-14
ID - 25-BRPE-15
ID - 25-BRPE-16
ID - 25-BRPE-17
ID - 25-BRPE-18
ID - 25-BRPE-19
ID - 25-BRPE-20
ID - 25-BRPE-21
ID - 25-BRPE-22
The young in this nest were only about 3 weeks old.
ID - 25-BRPE-24
ID - 25-BRPE-25
ID - 25-BRPE-26
ID - 25-BRPE-27
ID - 25-BRPE-28
ID - 25-BRPE-29
ID - 25-BRPE-30
ID - 25-BRPE-31
ID - 25-BRPE-32
ID - 25-BRPE-33
ID - 25-BRPE-34
ID - 25-BRPE-35
ID - 25-BRPE-36
ID - 25-BRPE-54
Feeding time…..
ID - 25-BRPE-37
ID - 25-BRPE-38
ID - 25-BRPE-39
ID - 25-BRPE-40
ID - 25-BRPE-41
ID - 25-BRPE-42
ID - 25-BRPE-43
ID - 25-BRPE-44
ID - 25-BRPE-45
ID - 25-BRPE-46
ID - 25-BRPE-47
ID - 25-BRPE-48
ID - 25-BRPE-49
ID - 25-BRPE-51
ID - 25-BRPE-52
ID - 25-BRPE-53
ID - 25-BRPE-55
ID - 25-BRPE-56
ID - 25-BRPE-57
ID - 25-BRPE-58
ID - 25-BRPE-59
ID - 25-BRPE-60
ID - 25-BRPE-78
ID - 25-BRPE-79
ID - 25-BRPE-116
ID - 25-BRPE-61
ID - 25-BRPE-62
ID - 25-BRPE-63
ID - 25-BRPE-65
ID - 25-BRPE-66
ID - 25-BRPE-67
ID - 25-BRPE-68
ID - 25-BRPE-69
ID - 25-BRPE-70
ID - 25-BRPE-71
ID - 25-BRPE-72
ID - 25-BRPE-73
ID - 25-BRPE-74
ID - 25-BRPE-75
ID - 25-BRPE-76
ID - 25-BRPE-77
ID - 25-BRPE-80
ID - 25-BRPE-81
ID - 25-BRPE-82
ID - 25-BRPE-83
ID - 25-BRPE-84
ID - 25-BRPE-85
ID - 25-BRPE-86
ID - 25-BRPE-87
ID - 25-BRPE-88
ID - 25-BRPE-89
ID - 25-BRPE-90
ID - 25-BRPE-91
ID - 25-BRPE-92
ID - 25-BRPE-93
ID - 25-BRPE-94
ID - 25-BRPE-95
ID - 25-BRPE-96
ID - 25-BRPE-97
ID - 25-BRPE-98
ID - 25-BRPE-105
ID - 25-BRPE-99
ID - 25-BRPE-100
ID - 25-BRPE-101
ID - 25-BRPE-102
ID - 25-BRPE-103
ID - 25-BRPE-104
ID - 25-BRPE-106
ID - 25-BRPE-107
ID - 25-BRPE-108
ID - 25-BRPE-109
ID - 25-BRPE-110
ID - 25-BRPE-111
ID - 25-BRPE-112
ID - 25-BRPE-113
ID - 25-BRPE-114
ID - 25-BRPE-115
We arrive in Tylerton, Smith Island for lunch at the world famous Drum Point Market.
Click on the image below to enlarge.
After a fine lunch of crab cake and Smith Island cake we boarded smaller boats to visit the pelican nesting colony on a nearby island.
Click on the image below to enlarge.
ID - BRPE12
ID - BRPE
ID - BRPE2
ID - BRPE4
ID - BRPE6
ID - BRPE8
ID - BRPE10
ID - BRPE11
ID - BRPE15
ID - BRPE16
ID - BRPE17
ID - BRPE18
ID - BRPE34
ID - BRPE35
ID - BRPE36
ID - BRPE37
ID - BRPE38
ID - BRPE40
ID - BRPE44
ID - BRPE46
ID - BRPE48
ID - BRPE49
ID - BRPE52
ID - BRPE53
ID - BRPE56
ID - BRPE60
ID - BRPE62
ID - BRPE64
ID - BRPE70
ID - BRPE71
ID - BRPE72
ID - BRPE75
ID - BRPE76
ID - BRPE77
ID - BRPE79
ID - BRPE81
ID - BRPE83
ID - BRPE85
ID - BRPE86
ID - BRPE89
ID - BRPE90
ID - BRPE92
ID - BRPE93
ID - BRPE94
ID - BRPE96
ID - BRPE98
The young in this nest were only about a week old.
Click on the image below to enlarge.
ID - BRPE20
ID - BRPE22
ID - BRPE
ID - BRPE25
ID - BRPE26
ID - BRPE27
ID - BRPE28
ID - BRPE29
ID - BRPE30
ID - BRPE68
ID - BRPE41
ID - BRPE21
ID - BRPE32
ID - BRPE33
ID - BRPE69
ID - BRPE91
ID - BRPE3
We went back to Smith Island to board the Captain Jason II for our journey back to Crisfield.
We passed a couple recently constructed Jetty’s and the Martin National Wildlife Refuge.
What a wonderful day and such a unique experience. Thank you Jim!!
Click on the image below to enlarge.
