Author Archives: birdsinmyviewfinder

There have been some cloudy and rainy days lately, bringing much needed rain but making photography a bit more difficult. But the birds are out and so am I. One nice find was a Bonaparte’s Gull attempting to snatch something from a Herring Gull. The photos in my earlier post (Bonaparte’s Gull) didn’t truly illustrateContinue reading “Mixed Bag of Sightings”

Bonaparte’s Gulls are a small gull that is a common winter visitor in my area. But I have never seen them up close. They don’t hang out on land and they have been well out from shore whenever I spotted them. They are only about half the size of the Herring Gulls that are commonContinue reading “Bonaparte’s Gull”

Gulls seem to be everywhere. And to be honest, birders tend to ignore them unless they are looking for the uncommon migrant or rare visitor. They also have a poor reputation. They are noisy, steal from people and other birds and can cause a mess when they congregate. But they can be interesting to observeContinue reading “Gulls”

Each fall I have to relearn my sparrow ID skills. It’s a bit easier over time but they can be tough to identify in the field until you get a lot of experience. I’m working on it! These are some of the sparrows I have seen lately. And a pair of House Finches. The maleContinue reading “Sparrows and a Finch”

Egrets are moving out but there are still occasions where large flocks pass through. This flock numbered over 100 and filled the trees and marsh for a time as they stopped to rest. Half of them were already on their way within a hour. A lone Great Blue Heron joined the group for a bit.Continue reading “Cormorants. And More Egrets.”

The numbers of egrets and herons are rapidly diminishing as they migrate to warmer places and plentiful food. Some parting photographs:

Here are some recent photos of smaller residents and migrants. I got wrapped up in the action series that I just posted and have been neglected these guys. Dark-eyed Junco ================================================================== Flycatcher =================================================================== Red-eyed Vireo ===================================================================== Swainson’s Thrush ================================================================== Yellow-bellied Sapsucker =============================================================== Northern Parula =========================================================== Ruby-crowned Kinglet ====================================================================== Chipping Sparrow ===================================================================== White-throated Sparrow ================================================================== SavannahContinue reading “Some Small Bird Portraits”

A birding buddy and I witnessed a real avian donnybrook the other day. We emerged from the woods next to a marsh and heard Blue Jays making a racket. Then we spotted a commotion in a big dead tree about 100 meters away. At first glance it appeared to be a raptor chasing another bird.Continue reading “This tree ain’t big enough…”

Kingfishers are a tough subject, at least for me. They seem to detect me with some early warning system. I will spot one sitting in a tree near the water and just as I get ready to take the shot, zoom! Off they go to the other side of the pond/swamp. They wait until IContinue reading “Kingfishers”

Bird activity has increased as the summer wanes. The youngsters have fledged. The adults have finished their seasonal molt. Migrants are preparing to leave, passing through or moving in. Here is some of the action I captured a few days ago. Various shorebirds continue to congregate as they pass through the area. Two common speciesContinue reading “Birds on the Move”