Author Archives: birdsinmyviewfinder

These are some random photographs from the end of February and early March. Birds seem to be in transition period and sightings are less frequent. But March is a seasonal transition time too. It can’t seem to make up its mind whether it is a winter or a spring month. We didn’t see some ofContinue reading “Early March”

As promised, here are some more pictures of our winter visitors. All of these birds will head north to Canada and other northern locales for the summer. This is a young male Surf Scoter. He doesn’t have the adult plumage but he does have the multi-colored bill. Horned Grebes breed in western Canada and Alaska.Continue reading “More Winter Visitors”

Winter is hanging on with another big snow storm. But our winter bird visitors will be leaving in the not too distant future so I take every opportunity to see them. These are some photos taken over the past few weeks. Horned Larks are relatively common during the winter. Lapland Longspurs are a little harderContinue reading “Winter Visitors”

A Common Loon was thrashing around as if trying to beat a shellfish that it had caught into submission. But what it was actually doing was positioning its catch to be swallowed. Loons typically eat fish but will grab shellfish and crustaceans as well. They, and ducks that eat shellfish, can’t crack the shell soContinue reading “Common Loon”

The following photographs were taken at one of my bird feeders. It hangs just outside a window on my porch and I took the photos through the window glass. Luckily the angle and the subdued lighting kept the autofocus from getting too messed up. It was a snowy afternoon and the birds were taking fullContinue reading “Turf Wars”

There was a Northern Harrier perched not far off the entrance road to the Salisbury State Reservation. It was a harbinger of things to come. There was a Snowy Owl sitting near the creek, just a little way from the boat ramp parking lot. It was relaxing and preening after finishing the catch he hadContinue reading “A Gathering of Predators”

It’s been a frigid few weeks here in New England. No surprise to we natives. But there are some who have no problem with the cold at all. It was just a day at the beach for this Snowy Owl despite the the wind chill in the teens (Fahrenheit). It was having a nice restContinue reading “Cold is Relative”

Northern Harriers are an easily recognizable, medium-sized raptor. They glide low over fields and marshes, swooping back and forth as they look and listen for small mammals. They have a big white patch on the rump that is easily visible and makes a good identifying mark. They breed in Canada into Alaska and in theContinue reading “Northern Harrier”

There are two Snowy Owls being observed near the mouth of the Merrimack River that seem to have set up winter residence in the area. I took these pictures near the main parking lot of a state park. We were looking at one owl that was sitting on the railing of the boardwalk from anContinue reading “Snowy Owls”

It’s been cold and windy so field trips have been limited. It is January in New England after all. But I take advantage of any days I can and will post photos of what I find. The wind was ruffling the feathers on this Gadwall. It was making life hard on we photographers as well.Continue reading “Ducks”