Patuxent Wildlife Refuge

Today, Laura and I decided to visit the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge. I had seen the signs for it many times while traveling on 295 going to Washington D.C., but had never visited it.

We decided to take the Cash Lake Trail, which once we started we had to back up and take a detour.

None of the trails are super long, so I assume one could do them all in one day if they have the time. We didn’t have the time, but given the heat and humidity, the one trail plus detour was enough for us for today.

The visitor center had many exhibits, but we didn’t tour them. Laura wasn’t impressed, and I think she just couldn’t combine in her mind a place that focuses on preserving wildlife with the many stuffed animals around the place.

So we were off to the Cash Trail…

We could see the lake and were anxious to walk around it, but butterflies and dragonflies were constantly grabbing our attention!

Then we made our way to as far as the Cash trail would let us go when we realized we’d have to walk back, decide on a new trail or take the detour, when suddenly a great blue heron flew by us. I managed a quick blurry shot of the amazing bird.

The bird decided to be very still in the tall lake grasses.

Wanting to get a decent shot of it in flight, Laura and I waited patiently. Finally, it took off. This time, poised and ready, I got a few better shots.

Also while waiting for the heron, we saw some wildflowers too.

Back on the trail via the detour, we saw more butterflies.

There weren’t a lot of signs, and a few times we didn’t know where we were in reference to the map.

Not sure where we were but forging ahead, a different dragonfly took our attention for awhile…

As we crossed the lake on a small bridge, we saw lovely water lilies and another pink wildflower, I can’t identify as of yet.

Then we came to a place where I thought we were going to stay for hours, a patch of thistle which must have invited every butterfly and hummingbird moth in the area!

We totally enjoyed our day at the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge.