Author Archives: birdsinmyviewfinder

Tree Swallows are gathering in huge numbers as they get ready to head south. This is just part of one flock. I was able to capture a few birds in the smaller flocks flying past me on their way to join up with the big flock. These birds were swooping down to grab a drinkContinue reading “Tree Swallow Migration”

Shorebirds are beginning to migrate through the area as they move from their breeding grounds further north. Plum Island, at the mouth of the Merrimack River, is a popular stopover. This Whimbrel was foraging at the southern shore of the island when I spotted him. They are not a rare bird but sightings are notContinue reading “Shorebird Migration”

Wood Ducks are very colorful and very shy. So it was a good morning for me back in April when a brightly colored male swam across a narrow channel in the Ash Street Swamp (West Newbury MA) under decent light conditions. These are all pretty much the same pose but I can’t decide which oneContinue reading “Wood Duck”

The newly fledged Least Terns have “graduated”. Here’s a an egg-to-flight album.

The local birds have finished their breeding season and things are quieter. Tree Swallows have started gathering into flocks before they head south. There were a couple of hundred gathered on the phragmites along a pond. The flocks will number in the thousands later in the summer. There will be lots of opportunities for catchingContinue reading “More Mid-July Birds”

Shorebirds start to migrate through our coastal area this time of year. And new duck families appear. I photographed some of the new arrivals in the past week. Semi-palmated Sandpipers are common: The Killdeers (left) breed here. The Least Sandpiper in the foreground on the right is somewhat common. These photos of a Sanderling inContinue reading “Mid-July: On the Water”

We are in the middle of a heat wave so it is a good time to avoid hiking around with my camera. So instead of gathering some new material, I’ll post some photos from a cooler time not too long ago. I was at the Ash Street Swamp in West Newbury, Massachusetts near the endContinue reading “Mobbing a Hawk”

This is a one bird show for a change. We got a good look at a Green Heron that not only perched in full view, but also flew several loops around us. He wasn’t distressed by our presence in the area so we knew we weren’t close to a nesting area. And we were standingContinue reading “Green Heron on the Wing”

July can be a quiet time for birding, especially with heat and humidity we are experiencing this summer. But a buddy and I got together for an early start on Plum Island, hoping to avoid the Greenheads (Google them) and see what was out and about. First stop was Sandy Point on the southern endContinue reading “Plum Island – July 13”

I went to the Martin Burns Wildlife Management Area in Byfield MA this morning (7/9). It was a hot and humid morning, 77F (25C) rising to 85F (29C) while I was out. The birds were pretty sparse and stayed in the brush and deep in the canopy for the most part. The flies were plentifulContinue reading “July Heat at Martin Burns WMA”