Greenbury Point: On the Chesapeake

Across the Severn River from Annapolis, tucked behind the Naval Academy Golf Club, the Naval Academy Primary School, and various other Navy installations, lies a lovely little park: Greenbury Point Conservation Area. It's also owned and maintained by the Navy, but it's open to the public, and well worth a visit.

Looking across the Severn towards Annapolis...

Greenbury Point is home to three old radio towers, only one of which seems to still be functioning in some capacity.

As we were walking past one of them, an osprey flew by and was nicely framed by the tower's trusswork.

For a relatively small park, there's quite a variety of forested areas, grassy stretches, marsh, and beach, with the diverse flora and fauna that accompany all of those. This lovely green dragonfly is an Eastern pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis).

These two bumblebees (Bombus sp) were hanging out feeding on milkweed flowers, which were in full bloom.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the milkweed was attracting all sorts of other species too, including this lovely spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus).

All the milkweed was also presumably providing great habitat for these monarchs (Danaus plexippus), who appear to be mating.

And also this red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus), which—true to its name—is a remarkably bright red.

I noticed that this vibrant and iconic flower and vine were all over the place in Maryland. Apparently, it's called the American trumpet vine (Campsis radicans).

Greenbury point is also home to some small stretches of beach, well decorated with rocks, shells, and seaglass.

I don't think I've ever been so excited to see a dead crab. This is what the desert has done to me.

I enjoyed sitting on a piling, dangling my feet over the rocks, and watching the waves...

And the ospreys (Pandion haliaetus)! This pair were especially fun to watch.

And finally, coming back for the landing...