Author Archives: birdsinmyviewfinder

I took this photo of a Least Tern coming out of the water after a dive under unusual light conditions. Our skies have a large amount of smoke from large wildfires burning in the upper midwestern US and south-central Canada. This was shot when there was sun filtering through high thin clouds with a lotContinue reading “Snapshot: Smokey Least Tern”

This Snowy Egret is displaying some of the wispy feathers that they develop during breeding season. You can easily distinguish them from the larger Great Egret without having them together for a size comparison. Snowy Egrets have a black bill and legs with yellow feet. Great Egrets have a yellow-orange bill.

Great Black-backed Gulls are the largest gull in the world and are found in north-eastern North America and all along the northern part of Europe. They have a well-deserved reputation for bullying and stealing so they can easily rule the beach. The Least Terns are harassing this gull for a very good reason. Their nestingContinue reading “Feathered Action: Terns vs Gull”

Birds are careful to keep their feathers clean. These Catbirds headed straight for a big puddle after a much needed rainy day. It’s been a very dry spring and early summer. Dust baths have been the main option most of the time and are helpful for controlling parasites. But a water bath is much nicer.

This small heron can be hard to spot since it can blend in with the reeds quite well and often remains motionless while waiting for a fish to swim close enough to snatch. This one came right out to the edge of the reeds and was easier to find. Least Bitterns are small and lightContinue reading “Snapshot: Least Bittern”

Red-winged Blackbirds are extremely territorial and can get pretty aggressive about maintaining their space. Here a Blackbird is harassing a Turkey Vulture that happened to fly over its territory. The Vulture posed no danger but Blackbirds don’t take kindly to any large bird getting too close. Their aggressiveness is universal. These photos depict Red-winged BlackbirdsContinue reading “Feathered Action: Red-winged Blackbirds”

After posing for a photograph, this Cedar Waxwing seems to be checking with me to make sure I got it. These popular birds with pastel coloring are found year round in the northern US. But they can also be found in southern Canada in the summer and as far south as lower Central America inContinue reading “Snapshot: Cedar Waxwing”

There is a Least Tern nesting site on Plum Island (Massachusetts) which is part of a state park. The dunes where the Terns nest are marked off so that people using the beach for swimming, sunning and fishing won’t get too close to the birds. I am careful about how close I get to theContinue reading “Snapshot: Least Tern”

The first new Piping Plovers are here. This youngster is already as big as his parents. But a parent is still watching out for him.

Momma Wood Duck leads her flotilla of ducklings.