Monthly Archives: August 2026

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.

These two Barn Swallows flying around the nest under the eave in the background display the markings for this colorful bird. They have a deep blue back and tawny underside with a rusty throat and forehead. The tail is deeply forked with a thick white band near the end. The color of the underside canContinue reading “Snapshot: Barn Swallow”

“Mom! Mom! Mom!” This is the time of year when we see newly fledged birds like this Common Tern continue to beg for food from adults. This parent appears to have decided that the time has come for the youngster to start fending for itself.