Our Christmas tradition of mingling with wildlife on Sligo Creek provided another joyful day. Most of our wildlife friends visited us at the University Boulevard retention ponds. It was also an eerie day — alarming, actually. The normally clear or muddy water had turned bright orange because a water main break upstream dumped torrents of pollution into the creek. The unnatural water color may have confused some of our feathered friends. Check out our photos from the day, and be sure to click here to read the story. (December 25, 2021)
A wedge of Canada geese fly over the University Boulevard retention ponds on Sligo Creek in Siver Spring, Maryland.
A sparrow edges toward Sligo Creek but stands there, uncertain, because the water is orange. After lengthy deliberation, the bird chooses not to take even one sip.
A view upstream toward the source of the water main break that caused the Christmas Day pollution emergency in Sligo Creek.
A downy woodpecker pecks furiously into a tree trunk.
A red-shouldered hawk stands atop a tall tree.
A red-shouldered hawk soars above Sligo Creek.
A belted kingfisher stands on a fallen branch. He will go hungry this Christmas.
A belted kingfisher darts across the pond at Sligo Creek.
A pair of mallards splash down at Sligo Creek.
Two drakes (male mallards) on the right, with a pair of females or youth on the left.
A raft of mallards hang out on Sligo Creek.
Peek-a-boo! A white-throated sparrow looks out from tall grasses, sticks and shrubbery.
