Birds Of Summer: Look Out For These Species At Calvert’s Birding Hotspots And Beaches

Osprey
Ospreys are one of Calvert County’s most iconic birds. Though nesting has fallen short of the scientific community’s hopes this year, residents and tourists can still spot the osprey busily hunting for fish or in their nests at Fort Smallwood State Park and other locations throughout the county.

Great Blue Herons
Great blue herons are something majestic to spot in the wild. You’ll see them along the shores of waterways or in marshes, hunting for fish. If there’s one nearby, you won’t miss it — great blue herons are between 3 and 4.5 feet tall. You may not see them as frequently as other water species, but they’re around for the lucky or the very patient.

Red-winged Blackbirds
These little birds are seen in marshy areas and love to sit atop cattails and other tall grassy plants. They’re black with red wings and are a staple of the Calvert birding trail. In fact, they’re one of the most abundant birds on the continent, so you have a good chance of seeing one of these striking friends.

Terns
There are several species of terns that come to Calvert. The Forster’s tern, for example, is known to have breeding areas in North Beach and Calvert Cliffs State Park. Forster’s terns are notable for their long wings, long beaks and vivid black markings on their heads. Terns fish like other seabirds, so you may get the chance to see one make a catch.

Baltimore Oriole
This Maryland icon can be seen in the Chesapeake Bay region during the summer months. They prefer open woodlands and tall trees. They’re notable for their bright orange and black coloring. Orioles are also special because of their nests — they lay eggs in pouches that hang from the trees. If you see a nest, let it be. Orioles lay eggs in May and June, so any nests you see may still have hatchlings or fledglings inside.

Eastern Whip-poor-will
Get your night-vision goggles ready for this one. These small brown birds are mostly nocturnal and feed on flying insects. Their coloring also makes them blend into the trees they favor when they’re not hunting, so you’ll need to pay close attention to spot one of these summer visitors. It’s much more likely you’ll hear one before you see it; the whip-poor-will’s song sounds like their name, and they sing it continuously for extended periods of time.

Eastern Bluebird
Eastern bluebirds are neither rare nor seasonal, but they’re special because of the enthusiasm they inspire. Bluebirds are small and brightly colored and favor farmlands and open spaces rather than shoreline, setting them apart from the shorebirds we know and love in Calvert County. The Calvert Bluebird Project maintains a list of bluebird trails and monitors nesting boxes around the county through their nesting season (April–August).

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Blink and you might miss them. The ruby-throated hummingbird visits the Chesapeake Bay area each year from spring to fall as it travels to and from its breeding grounds. These tiny, 3-inch birds fly nearly 1,000 miles round-trip each year to and from those breeding grounds, stopping in Calvert to enjoy nectar from our gardens and orchards.

Mallards (and Other Ducks)
Ducklings start showing up on the beaches of Calvert in late spring, delighting pretty much everyone. Mallards are common all over the East Coast, but there’s something to be said for sitting on the beach and watching a duck family tumble out from behind a rock. Ducks are very social birds, and males form large flocks that band together outside of breeding season.