Monthly Archives: April 2025

Purple Martins, our largest swallows, have arrived for the summer after spending the winter in South America. The males have a very dark blue-purple body with black wings. They look all black unless highlighted by the sun. They nest in colonies and will happily utilize nest boxes made for multiple pairs. This male is partContinue reading “Snapshot: Purple Martin”

Warblers are beginning to migrate into and through New England. Blue-winged Warblers will stay here after migrating from the Caribbean while many others continue further north. I spotted this one before I heard him singing his “bee-buzzzz” song.

These two closely related shorebirds are hard to distinguish when seen separately. Sometimes the call is the only way to be sure. Identification is not a problem when they are together. Greater Yellowlegs are larger with a longer bill in relation to head size in comparison with the Lesser Yellowlegs. The bill differences can beContinue reading “Snapshot: Yellowlegs”

Spring is finally here. I took a break from birds and did some closeup photography with my seldom used macro lens, something I might try more often. The bees are getting active with the onset of warm weather and flowering trees. This one has been filling the pollen baskets on her legs as well asContinue reading “Non-Avian Guest: Honeybee”

Ruddy Turnstones are a long distant migrant that spends the summer along our shores. This shorebird forages in the rocks, sand and shallow water at the shore. Their strongly patterned coloration makes them easy to spot. Here one takes flight to join it’s companion to move further along the shore.

This nondescript little bird with the perky tail is a common summer resident in the northern US. Only the dark barring on the tail and wings breaks up the uniform brown plumage. House Wrens have a long, bubbly song that is quite loud for such a small bird.

A Willet makes a bit of a splash while being chased by a rival.

An Eastern Phoebe preparing to go after a flying insect. These small flycatchers often perch on an exposed branch near an open area where they sit, flicking their tail and scanning for a target. They may return to the same perch repeatedly for quite some time.

This woodpecker makes neat rows of holes in tree bark in order to gather sap and also eat the insects that get trapped in it. Hence the name Sapsucker. The hints of yellow on the chest and belly also contribute to the common name. This is a female. Males have a red throat. Note theContinue reading “Yellow-bellied Sapsucker”

That big bill gives this dabbling duck it’s name: Northern Shoveler. The wings on a male display a very colorful pattern of a powder-blue shoulder with white, green and black speculums.