Monthly Archives: August 2026

I came across this while cleaning up a folder from a long ago trip. Green Kingfishers are found in Mexico and in Central and South America. In the US, they are only found on a small region along the Texas-Mexico border and a little bit of southern Arizona. This male was photographed in Weslaco TexasContinue reading “Found in the Clutter: Green Kingfisher”

This is a Semipalmated Plover on the left and a Semipalmated Sandpiper on the right. They both have partial webbing between their toes, hence the name. The Plover will continue migrating bit by bit to the coastal areas of the Southeastern US and South America. The Sandpiper, on the other hand, will fuel up andContinue reading “Snapshot: Semipalms”

Double-crested Cormorants are accomplished “fishermen” but even the best can have a catch get away. The Cormorant in the middle has lost the minnow it just captured. The Cormorants and some Yellowlegs were chasing a school of minnows back and forth along the shore when this little mishap occurred.

This Peregrine Falcon has just put a huge flock of shorebirds to flight. Peregrines have a wide distribution and have different markings and patterns depending on where in the world you see them. This is the North American variety.

Tree Swallows gather by the thousands on Plum Island in August as they prepare to head south in the early fall. This tree full of Swallows is just a small part of a huge flock roosting in trees, shrubs and reeds near the refuge maintenance area.

Caspian Terns are the largest tern in the world. The size difference with Common Terns is obvious in this photo. Caspian Terns can be as long as 21 inches (53 cm) while the largest Common Terns are about 14 inches (36 cm) long. Caspian Terns have a worldwide distribution. We see them here in theContinue reading “Snapshot: Caspian Tern”

This Least Tern is kiting (hovering) over a pool while looking for a fish to grab.

This is a second post featuring a young Forster’s Tern. It shows the rusty brown coloration that is darker and more evident in juvenile birds but has begun to fade in this individual. This seems to be a youngster partially transitioned to a more adult pattern that has no brown at all. This photograph alsoContinue reading “Snapshot: Forster’s Tern (II)”

Forster’s Terns are not a common tern species on the Massachusetts north shore but are often seen in the late summer. Adults have a prominent eye patch in their non-breeding plumage and that makes them easy to spot. This one has a hint of rust coloration on its back. Young birds have rusty brown shoulders,Continue reading “Snapshot: Forster’s Tern”

Recognizable by its pink beak and bouncy call.