Sea bird hovering overhead.

Sea bird hovering overhead.

Tundra swans near the mouth of the Patuxent River. These swans can be distinguished from mute swans by their black bills. Tundra swans are native to the Chesapeake Bay region.

Tundra swans near the mouth of the Patuxent River. These swans can be distinguished from mute swans by their black bills. Tundra swans are native to the Chesapeake Bay region.

Deer tracks on the beach.

Footprints in the mud of a Patuxent River marsh, possibly muskrat.

Closeup of an osprey nest built amid pound net posts.

Closeup of an osprey nest built amid pound net posts.

Pound net posts are taken over by osprey, who built their home there.

Bird nest, possibly built by a marsh wren, attached to marsh grass.

Osprey on pier piling.

Mute swans in flight. Mute swans are an agressive invasive species. There are now over 3,000 mute swans in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay. They are easily distinguished from the tundra swan by their orange beaks.

Pelicans on a post.

Oystercatchers.

A Northern Gannet, somewhat north of its normal range, tangled in fishing line and drowned.

A Northern Gannet, somewhat north of its normal range, tangled in fishing line and drowned.

A Northern Gannet, somewhat north of its normal range, tangled in fishing line and drowned.

A snowy winter day in the marsh.

A snowy winter day in the marsh.

Snow in the marsh.

Snow in the marsh.

Winter and ice along the Patuxent River.

Winter and ice along the Patuxent River.

Winter along the Patuxent River.

Patuxent River duck blind.

Reflections of a Patuxent River marsh.

Reflections of a Patuxent River marsh.

Patuxent River sunset with reflections on a calm river.

Patuxent River sunset with reflections on a calm river.

Parkers Creek, off Chesapeake Bay, in the American Chestnut Land Trust Area.

Mary Hollinger at Parkers Creek, off Chesapeake Bay, in the American Chestnut Land Trust Area.

Winter marsh shoreline.

Paddling in a Patuxent marsh.

Paddling through the Patuxent marshes on a bright winter's day. Sun glint sparkles on the water.

Ripples on the Patuxent River river bottom. These were seen on a day having exceptionally clear water.

Fall leaves lining a Patuxent River beach.

A Great Blue Heron and a Snowy Egret sharing a Patuxent River marsh area on a glorious fall day.

Winter marsh at low tide.

Volunteers with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay work to restore underwater seagrass beds near Solomons Island.

Volunteers with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay work to restore underwater seagrass beds near Solomons Island.

Volunteers with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay work to restore underwater seagrass beds near Solomons Island.

Replanting marsh grass in an effort to protect and rebuild this beach near Annapolis.

Replanting marsh grass in an effort to protect and rebuild this beach near Annapolis.

Biologs ready to be installed as an erosion buffer.

Biologs ready to be installed as an erosion buffer.

Kayak sunset along the Patuxent River.

A Patuxent River sunset.

Canada geese flying into the Jug Bay area at sunset.

A thunderhead building over the Patuxent River at sunset.

Sunset on the pier.