Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge is my current favorite place to photograph birds. There are at least two occupied bald eagle nests during nesting season. There are at least six osprey nests, some in trees, some on platforms. It's near my house, relatively unknown (few people visit it), and offers good opportunities for bird photography. In addition to the ospreys (in season) and eagles (year round residents), I've seen herons, terns, Canada geese, ducks (Mallards, Hooded Mergansers), wild turkeys, hawks, various types of woodpecker, cormorants, and lots of small birds that I don't care for but that I see other photographers get excited about (warblers, etc). There are also foxes, deer, beavers, turtles, snakes, beavers, muskrats, raccoons, rabbits, snakes, and other small animals. I've even seen a pair of coyotes. This is a former military base. The buildings are (almost all) gone, but the patrol (perimeter) roads are still there. The site has a mixture of forests, swamps, meadows, streams, and riverbank (Belmont Bay/Occoquan River). This unimproved refuge is a great place for a walk in the park, and it's a target-rich environment for photographers. In May/June, there are lots of biting flying insects, and ticks galore to feast on visitors. There's an entrance fee; I use the national park pass to get in.
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| Wild Turkey |
Mason Neck is a peninsula, surrounded by the Potomac and Occoquan rivers. There's a state park adjacent to the wildlife refuge. The state park is on the opposite side of Belmont Bay from Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge; they are visible from one another. They have the same sort of terrain and wildlife. I like shooting there, but don't go often because of the extra distance to drive only to shoot the same wildlife. There's a state park entrance fee.
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| Bald Eagle Looks at Me |
Great Falls National Park is on the Potomac River. The Virginia side has some excellent overlooks and the falls can be spectacular, with unusual shots possible in the Winter. Kayakers love to play in the currents below the falls. The gorge below the falls is rocky, with swift-running water. The trails along the river offer lots of opportunities for landscape and bird photography (geese, herons, buzzards, and an occasional eagle).
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| Great Falls Grafiti |
Gravelly Point is adjacent to National Airport and directly below the approach path to runway 19. When the winds favor that runway, you can expect a steady stream of regional jets and 737 and A320 class aircraft flying directly overhead. The runways are short, so there are no wide bodies landing there. When the wind is just right, the wingtip vortices can be felt.
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| Boeing 737 Turning to Line Up for Landing |
Burke Lake is a good place for Fall colors and eagles.
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| Fall Colors at Burke Lake |
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| Bald Eagle at Burke Lake |
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