Fall is such a great time to get outside

Southern Maryland’s trademark heat and humidity really stuck with us this year. We just couldn’t seem to shake it, right up until Friday morning that is, when Mother Nature abruptly decided it was about time fall finally arrived.

I think the change in humidity has been welcomed by most folks, although it’s sort of taken me awhile to adjust mentally.

Last Friday, I stubbornly wore a pair of shorts and flipflops as our family headed to Stratford Hall in Virginia to take in some local history, as if it was still summer weather. But when we made an impromptu detour and drove down to the shore of the Potomac River to do a little shark tooth hunting, I regretted my decision immediately. I’ve been dressing more appropriately ever since.

So, on Sunday afternoon when my husband suggested we go on a boat ride and explore the fingers of Cuckold Creek off the Patuxent River, I smartly wore a windbreaker under my life jacket and hopped aboard. Lesson learned.

We pushed off about an hour before sunset and, with the Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge to our backs, motored a path that took us right past Weeks Marina and into the nooks and crannies of the creek.

We saw not another soul, and were delighted to be the only folks on the water. Plenty of creatures were stirring, however.

Motoring slowly through the water, we had a lot to observe. Within the space of a few minutes we saw four great blue herons wading near shore as well as crafty heron playing hide and seek with us from the branches of a tree overlooking the water. A belted kingfisher zipped from shore to shore and a gull dove for a small fish and then gulped it down as it flew overhead. A lone egret made an appearance as well.

The tide was still and the water was as smooth as glass as we explored to the very back of the creek. As the creek turned to marsh, a testy swallow’s call warned us not to come any closer. We obeyed and slowly turned the boat toward home.

Fall is such a great time to get outside. Already there are less mosquitoes buzzing around, and pretty soon Jack Frost will be working his magic on the tree leaves.

I wonder how all that beautiful fall foliage will look from the water? I’ll be finding out soon enough I’m sure.

Moore’s photograph tops DNR contest

There are quite a few talented nature photographers in Maryland. I know this because I’ve seen their work, and you can too at http://news.maryland.gov/ dnr/2018/09/18/2018-photo-contest-winners-selected-from-4300-entries/.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Annual Photo Contest came to a close on Aug. 31 and DNR announced the winners of the contest last month.

The winning photograph, “Little Blue Heron Ready to Pounce,” could easily grace the pages of Smithsonian Magazine or be part of a museum exhibit.

The photographer, Kevin Moore of Perry Hall, won $500 plus a 2019 Maryland State Park and Trail Passport and a five-year subscription to Maryland Natural Resource magazine. Moore also gets five copies of the 2019 calendar with

his photograph on the front cover.

Entries are divided into categories based on the season. The first-, second-, and third-place winning photographs will grace the pages of the DNR calendar which you can preorder now at www.shopdnr.com/ 2019calendar.aspx.

This year, over 4,300 photographs were submitted, more than double last year’s entries. If you want to get in on the fun, start taking your camera with you on your outdoor adventures now.

Next year’s contest will wrap up at the end of August 2019, so you’ve got four seasons of exploration and observation to snap just the right photograph to win the contest. Good luck.

Langley to talk rockfish at SMRFO meeting

I have a feeling that fall rockfish season is going to be excellent this year.

Capt. Bernie Shea of the Shea-D-Lady (301672-3282) shared a few photos from his most recent trips and his clients have been putting lots of nice-looking rockfish in his cooler.

If you’re planning to

do some fall fishing and you’ve got rockfish in mind, come on out to the Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization’s monthly meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Solomons Voluteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department at the corner of Dowell Road and Route 4.

This month’s guest speaker is Capt. Phil Langley of Fish the Bay Charters (301-904-0935),

who will discuss strategies for the fall rockfish season. Bring your questions and bring along a buddy, too. The meeting is free and open to the public.

But while you’re there, consider joining if you’re a recreational fisherman or you want to protect our fisheries now and for future generations.

Dues are just $20 a year, and if you join now, your membership will be good through December 2019. For more information, go to http://smrfo.com/.