Author Archives: birdsinmyviewfinder

We are in a bit of a heat wave here in New England. Not nearly as bad as the southern US but decidedly uncomfortable. The birds reduce their activity as the morning progresses and the temperature rises. But I did get some photographs before it got too hot and humid for man and beast. AsContinue reading “Hot July Morning (Part 1)”

It’s breeding time here and I have taken a few random photographs of birds at their nest locations. I don’t actively search out nest sites but I do take a photo or two if I come across an active nest box or natural nest. A pair of Tree Swallows at their nest box: An EasternContinue reading “Nesting Season”

I’ve had a lull in field work so I went back and got some photographs I took in May but never posted. They didn’t have a theme until now. First up are two Vireos. Vireos are woodland songbirds that winter in Central and South America and breed in the US and Canada. They are exclusivelyContinue reading “Belated May Photographs”

The current stormy weather pattern is limiting my field excursions but it does give me a chance to catch up with some topics that have been languishing a bit. Glossy Ibis are wading birds that are a bit larger than a Crow. They have long legs and long, downward curving bill. They forage in wetlandsContinue reading “Glossy Ibis”

Cedar Waxwings are a popular bird to observe and photograph. They are very colorful in a silky sort of way. Their head and chest is pale brown that transitions to soft gray on the back and wings. The belly is pale yellow and the tail is a darker gray with a bright yellow tip. TheyContinue reading “Cedar Waxwing”

Most of the Swallows that I see zooming erratically through the sky as they chase flying insects are Tree Swallows. But if I look carefully I will see another type flying among them. This one has a deeply forked tail that immediately identifies it as a Barn Swallow. They build their nests on buildings andContinue reading “Barn Swallow”

I visited a nesting area for Least Terns and Piping Plovers situated at the southern end of Plum Island. The area is a Massachusetts park. The beach is open but no pets are allowed and the bulk of the dune area is closed and off limits so that the birds can successfully nest. Least TernsContinue reading “Least Tern Courtship”

The Eastern Wood-Pewee is a flycatcher that breeds in the eastern US and winters in northern South America. It’s not particularly small and size is not the inspiration for its name. It is named for its call, “pee-a-wee”. Like many flycatchers, it likes to perch in an open position where it can watch for insectsContinue reading “Eastern Wood-Pewee”

Here are a few more Wood Warblers as a follow up to my last post. Yellow Warblers were the subject of a post I made not long ago. They breed in our area and we see them all summer. This one perched on an open branch in order to proclaim his territory. That provided anContinue reading “Some More Wood Warblers”

Wood Warblers are a diverse North American songbird family that includes well over a 100 species. Their migration through the eastern US to the northern US and Canada each spring is a big event for birdwatchers, including some who aren’t particularly active for the rest of the year. Here are a few I captured recently.Continue reading “Some Wood Warblers”