Solomon's Island Summer Scenes in August 2022

 We visited Solomon's Island looking for birds, boats and beaches.  We found all three and more.  Here are my favorites.

                                    Inaccessible beach viewed from the Solomon's Boardwalk

Tic-Tac-Toe, Three in a row

Solomon's Boat Rental and the Governor Johnson Bridge

Beaches

Annmarie Garden Crepe Myrtle, Leviatano (center) Untitled (right) aluminum by James Rosati

A Tribute to the Oyster Tonger, A Chesapeake Waterman Antonio Tobias Mendez American, b. Denver, Colorado, 1963 1994 Bronze and granite Permanent Collection, Annmarie Garden

Leviatano 2014

Stainless Steel

by Michael Shewmaker

Geese

Calvert Marina

Snowhill Waterfront Park

Last weeks visit was to Snowhill Waterfront Park in St. Mary’s County, MD.  It was a lovely spot with a wide beach, several barns and a house that were private property, a well decoration and a really interesting tree.  There was a picnic pavilion and room for the upgrade they eventually plan for sports facilities.  We also drive to Sandgates road to see the water view.

A very twisty tree

Jim

Green darner dragonfly

Mimosa near Sandgates

North Beach Boardwalk June 13, 2022

We chose to go to North Beach boardwalk last week after getting tick bites in the last two weeks.  The temperature was warming up, and I tried to pick a cooler day in the week.  The trip turned into a disaster for our little poodle who fell off a bench and had a seizure, but the boardwalk itself was enjoyable.  The Sunrise Garden was very pretty this time of year, with water lilies, koi, and hibiscus.  The beach was very expensive, requiring a beach tag, but the boardwalk was free and leashed dogs were allowed.  This time of year we were able to park in a handicapped spot during the week, but I expect that will be more difficult during the summer months.

Mermaid sculpture at Sunrise Gardens

pink waterlily

hibiscus

Cecil the Lion sculpture

Flag Ponds Nature Park June 7, 2022

We visited Flag Ponds starting at the handicapped parking area.  There is about a half mile entrance walk on a hill which would have been difficult for us.  The park charges a day use fee, $8 for non-Calvert residents or $5 for residents.  We walked out to the beach and pond area.  It was lovely, with beach grass, a view of the cliffs in the distance and a fairly quiet beach in early June.  There was a boardwalk and trail that also had a short walk to an observation pier (which we didn't take).  There were a few people on the beach and a lot of wind.  We didn't find a bench, so we ate lunch in the car, bug free.  I also took a walk to Duncan's Pond  as far as the bird blind, and Fisherman's trail to another marshy pond.  The Duncan's Pond trail had 6 inch grass, which was unfortunately tick heaven.  I quickly spotted a raccoon, later followed by 3 or 4 osprey at a distance and 3 deer in the woods.  I made out the spots on a fawn as they rushed away, even though I was fairly quiet.  I also saw 2 small lizards, geckos or skinks run under the boardwalk.  Both had red stripes down the sides, but I couldn't identify the blur as they slipped by.  The trail was quite muddy.  Fisherman's trail went to a brown marsh probably with cedar trees since there were some tree's knees, where I didn't see any animals.

Near the beach

Ponds

We enjoyed seeing this wind brushed driftwood.

The cliffs

I didn't expect to see a raccoon.  The raccoon probably thought the same.

Osprey

Cabin at Fisherman's trailhead

Fisherman's pond