Author Archives: birdsinmyviewfinder

We always look forward to seeing this migrant as it stops for a rest on its way south. They don’t appear in the same numbers as other migrants like Yellowlegs so it is a treat to spot one. There are four subspecies and only one lives in North America. Like many of our migrants, theyContinue reading “Migrants – Whimbrel”

More Black Terns. These were taken with my usual setup, handheld 450mm zoom. I didn’t see these birds at their usual fishing grounds today so they may have continued on their way to the north shores of South America. Vaya con dios, mis amigos.

I am lucky to live along a major migratory route for birds who breed in Canada and the Arctic but winter in the southern US, Central America and South America. There are chances to see a great variety of birds as they pass through. Shorebirds and other coastal dwellers are the primary migrants at thisContinue reading “Migrants – Black Tern”

I have been planning to do a series of posts on the migrants passing through my area in the past few weeks. But I keep getting side-tracked. First the Tree Swallows have been performing their annual display as they prepare to leave us (previous two posts). And now an Osprey provided a bit of aContinue reading “Osprey”

Tree Swallow activity continues to grow. This morning we were driving north from the southern end of the Island when I spotted a large dark area on the road ahead. We pulled over and looked at the 2000+ Tree Swallows sitting in the road with probably as many or even more in the shrubs andContinue reading “More Gathering of the Swallows”

Tree Swallows are gathering by the thousands on Plum Island as they prepare to migrate. We come across tall shrubbery that is sagging under the weight of the birds crowded onto them while roosting. Waves of Swallows will flow like a river over bodies of water as they dip down to catch drink in flightContinue reading “A Gathering of Tree Swallows”

The single American Avocet summering in our area is apparently still enjoying its visit. I did a post on this vagrant previously and we have continued to observe it over the summer. Vagrant, of course, meaning out of place. This bird should be somewhere in New Mexico, Colorado or elsewhere along the eastern side ofContinue reading “American Avocet”

Bird and human activity has been slowed by the ongoing heat and drought in my area. But life continues. These are some of the birds that I have spotted in the past few weeks. I’ll do cute first. These are part of the new generation of Gadwalls. There is a family of flycatchers, Empidonax, thatContinue reading “Some Recent Sightings”

Young Hummingbirds (in my previous post) aren’t the only juvenile visitors to my backyard. There was a family of Cooper’s Hawks nesting somewhere in the wooded area near my home. One or two would come close on occasion and there was a period when I could hear the young hawk begging food from the parents.Continue reading “Cooper’s Hawk”

Birds have to learn their lessons, just like us. I photographed a young Ruby-throated Hummingbird trying to figure out my feeder. He or she was trying to get at the fluid from underneath instead of using the ports on the top. I guess it wasn’t paying attention to mom when she was using the feeder.Continue reading “Life Lessons”