Category Archives: Uncategorized

As a follow up to my last post, this is a male Wood Duck in a photo taken last spring. These photogenic ducks can be hard capture due to their skittish nature so I never miss a chance to get a photo when I can.

A pair of Wood Ducks perched on their nest box last spring.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets typically have their “crown” hidden and flash it when they are excited. This one is flashing the cameraman.

I came across this while cleaning up a folder from a long ago trip. Green Kingfishers are found in Mexico and in Central and South America. In the US, they are only found on a small region along the Texas-Mexico border and a little bit of southern Arizona. This male was photographed in Weslaco TexasContinue reading “Found in the Clutter: Green Kingfisher”

This is a Semipalmated Plover on the left and a Semipalmated Sandpiper on the right. They both have partial webbing between their toes, hence the name. The Plover will continue migrating bit by bit to the coastal areas of the Southeastern US and South America. The Sandpiper, on the other hand, will fuel up andContinue reading “Snapshot: Semipalms”

Double-crested Cormorants are accomplished “fishermen” but even the best can have a catch get away. The Cormorant in the middle has lost the minnow it just captured. The Cormorants and some Yellowlegs were chasing a school of minnows back and forth along the shore when this little mishap occurred.

This Peregrine Falcon has just put a huge flock of shorebirds to flight. Peregrines have a wide distribution and have different markings and patterns depending on where in the world you see them. This is the North American variety.

Tree Swallows gather by the thousands on Plum Island in August as they prepare to head south in the early fall. This tree full of Swallows is just a small part of a huge flock roosting in trees, shrubs and reeds near the refuge maintenance area.

Caspian Terns are the largest tern in the world. The size difference with Common Terns is obvious in this photo. Caspian Terns can be as long as 21 inches (53 cm) while the largest Common Terns are about 14 inches (36 cm) long. Caspian Terns have a worldwide distribution. We see them here in theContinue reading “Snapshot: Caspian Tern”

This Least Tern is kiting (hovering) over a pool while looking for a fish to grab.