Staghorn sumac

Unidentified wetland plant found along the Patuxent River.

Non-indigenous pampas grass after a rain.

Trumpet vine flowers.

Fungus on a tree trunk.

Wild strawberries.

Dew drops on an oak leaf.

A type of fern.

The invasive species multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)

Poplar blossom.

Poplar blossom with ants on the lower petal.

Cattails on Parkers Creek.

Wild rice on Parkers Creek.

Fungus on a locust tree.

Fungus on a locust tree.

Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)

Catching fish two at a time on a calm Chesapeake Bay day.

Chair waiting for occupant on a sunny summer day on the Patuxent River.

Children learn about the treasures of Chesapeake Bay at Flag Pond Nature Park.

Mermaid art along the beach at Flag Pond Nature Center.

Looking for critters off the North Beach boardwalk.

Young ladies exploring the bay from a pier.

A young beachcomber looking for treasure.

The Poppa Francis tied up at the Leonardtown Quay during its waterfront festival . The Poppa Francis was built as a buy boat but is used now to seed the the Chesapeake with oysters.

Along the Leonardtown waterfront during the 2008 Waterfront Festival.

A family of sea otters in the Potomac River. Whoops! They are human swimmers being herded by a flotilla of kayaks.

American goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) on a tree branch.

Birds attracted to a Potomac River pound net.

Birds attracted to a Potomac River pound net.

A little green heron (Butorides virescens )

Patuxent River heronry.

Hummingbird on a feeder.

Eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

A multitude of seagulls over the Patuxent River silhouetted against an overcast sky.

A great white egret or great egret (Ardea alba) on the Patuxent River.

A pair of finches (species?)

An osprey flying above silhouetted by a deep blue sky.

A redwinged blackbird seen at Parkers Creek.

A mute swan (Cygnus olor) foraging. The mute swan is an invasive species that is considered one of Chesapeake Bay's most harmful species as they edge out other waterfowl and destroy aquatic vegetation.

A pair of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in a tree off Parkers Creek. There appears to be a third eagle to the left of the tree trunk and above the easily seen pair.

Blue crab doubler in net. The male is above while the female below is most likely a soft-shell crab.

Crab pot with part of someone's dinner of blue crabs.

An artistic tree full of crab pot marker buoys.

A pair of horseshoe crabs -female on the left, male on the right. Their shells are nearly 10 inches across.

A baby horseshoe crab.

A baby blue crab.

A male blue crab looking sort of crabby. It has no red claw tips like the female.

Male blue crab. Compare underside of male to female sook in image line4166.

Underside of adult female blue crab, called sook by watermen. Note also red-tipped claws. Both design of underbody and color of claws differentiate male blue crab from female blue crab.

Crab pot with terrapin excluders installed.