Category Archives: Uncategorized

Spring is finally here. I took a break from birds and did some closeup photography with my seldom used macro lens, something I might try more often. The bees are getting active with the onset of warm weather and flowering trees. This one has been filling the pollen baskets on her legs as well asContinue reading “Non-Avian Guest: Honeybee”

Ruddy Turnstones are a long distant migrant that spends the summer along our shores. This shorebird forages in the rocks, sand and shallow water at the shore. Their strongly patterned coloration makes them easy to spot. Here one takes flight to join it’s companion to move further along the shore.

This nondescript little bird with the perky tail is a common summer resident in the northern US. Only the dark barring on the tail and wings breaks up the uniform brown plumage. House Wrens have a long, bubbly song that is quite loud for such a small bird.

A Willet makes a bit of a splash while being chased by a rival.

An Eastern Phoebe preparing to go after a flying insect. These small flycatchers often perch on an exposed branch near an open area where they sit, flicking their tail and scanning for a target. They may return to the same perch repeatedly for quite some time.

This woodpecker makes neat rows of holes in tree bark in order to gather sap and also eat the insects that get trapped in it. Hence the name Sapsucker. The hints of yellow on the chest and belly also contribute to the common name. This is a female. Males have a red throat. Note theContinue reading “Yellow-bellied Sapsucker”

That big bill gives this dabbling duck it’s name: Northern Shoveler. The wings on a male display a very colorful pattern of a powder-blue shoulder with white, green and black speculums.

A pair of Cooper’s Hawks nested about 70 feet (20 meters) from my home last summer. They may be planning to repeat this year. This one was sitting on branch outside my window after having stopped briefly at the old nest. The local birds and chipmunks are not too happy about it. But these commonContinue reading “Returning Neighbor? Cooper’s Hawk”

American Kestrels are a small falcon, about the size of a dove. The slate-blue color on the wings indicates that this is a male. Kestrels like open fields where they can prey on insects and small animals. They sometimes hover, or kite, over the field as they search for a target and then drop downContinue reading “Snapshot: American Kestrel”

I did not see many Snowy Owls this past winter and any sightings were from a long distance. That wasn’t the case a few years ago. This one was sitting on pile of sticks about 30 yards (27 meters) away. It was fluffed up for warmth in the winter cold and enjoying a little rest.Continue reading “Snapshot: Snowy Owl”