Author Archives: birdsinmyviewfinder

The Harlequin Ducks (previous post) stole the show at Halibut Point on Cape Ann. But there were other ducks and other kinds of birds to see as well. A few ducks were too far from shore to photograph but these are some that flew or swam nearer to the rocks we were on. A flockContinue reading “More from Cape Ann”

The Harlequin is a comic character in the Italian commedia dell’arte that is known for his colorful costume. One of the ducks that visit us in the winter is named for this character. These photos will show how well that name applies. These are males and they are the inspiration for the name. They areContinue reading “The Harlequin”

I have heard many bird watchers say that most bird behavior can be explained by food or sex. This long post is a collection of some photographs of birds engaged in food acquisition or consumption that I have taken over the years. It’s a post that I have worked on as a side project toContinue reading “Bird Gourmets”

I was with several other people on a platform overlooking the beach at Emerson Rocks on Plum Island. We were observing and photographing hundreds of shorebirds that had gathered on the beach and rocks. The number of birds was gradually declining as the tide came in but there were still several flocks on the beach.Continue reading “Peregrine Falcons”

I would do an injustice to the wide diversity of birds in eastern Massachusetts if I did not post photos of more than just Warblers, Sparrows and various shorebirds. Here are some recent sightings. These are Mallards that flew close to us with the sun in a good position. The males are very distinctive butContinue reading “More than Warblers and Sparrows”

Here are some more Warbler and Sparrow pictures from the past week or so. A few of these birds will stay for the winter but most are just passing through. Yellow-rumped Warblers are still the most common species we are seeing. I saw dozens of them in a 2 hour walk. Is this one listeningContinue reading “Warblers and Sparrows”

These photographs were taken on a beautiful New England October morning. The sun was bright. The sky was a brilliant blue. And the wind was unusually calm despite the proximity to the ocean. The conditions turned the surface of the water in the pannes into a mirror. No. There isn’t a second flock of sandpipersContinue reading “Sunny October Morning”

Some recent sightings include the Yellow-rumped Warbler. This warbler has been by far the most common warbler I have seen this fall. These pictures were taken in an old orchard that is now open space being preserved for walkers and wildlife. Sparrows are a common bird and they tend to be lumped into one thing,Continue reading “Recent Sightings”

These are photos of two of the less common shorebird species that migrate through the Massachusetts coast. The first is the Pectoral Sandpiper. It’s a bit larger than the more common “peeps” like Semipalmated Sandpipers. The size difference is obvious in the photos of a Pectoral flying with the Semipalms. Note the buffy breast andContinue reading “More Shorebirds”

A few of us visited a farm to look for some uncommon migrants. We had no luck with those migrants but it was an interesting side trip. This post has more mammals than birds, a change of pace from my usual entries. We visited the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, a National Historic Landmark, in Newbury, Massachusetts. ThereContinue reading “Down on the Farm”