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My main focus is birds but I occasionally post about a non-feathered subject. Turtles are a favorite of mine and I have even done some work with turtle paleontology. And this Common Snapping Turtle sure looks like it stepped out of the Cretaceous! But I spotted her more recently as she was apparently returning toContinue reading “Non-Avian Guest – Snapping Turtle”

The Common Gallinule is a member of the rail family. It has the look of a chicken despite its aquatic lifestyle. It’s original name, the Common Moorhen, recalled that resemblance. It is a close relative of the moorhens of Europe, Asia and Africa, but this North American species was renamed in 2011 to distinguish them.Continue reading “Snapshots – Common Gallinule”

I have a pair of Cooper’s Hawks nesting about 100 feet (30 m) from my house. They are accipiters and prey on other birds. Medium sized birds such as Doves, Robins, Blue Jays and others are conspicuously absent from around my home and smaller birds are pretty wary. This is mom on the nest. Cooper’sContinue reading “Neighbor – Cooper’s Hawk”

This little half ounce (13 gram) bird is an athlete par excellence. Blackpoll Warblers hold the record for the longest non-stop migration flight by a songbird. They winter in northern South America and breed in northern Canada. They have flown non-stop for 3 days to cover 1800 miles over the Atlantic Ocean. They double theirContinue reading “Blackpoll Warbler”

Killdeer are a member of the shorebird family but aren’t usually found at the shore. They are more often seen at inland sites including open agricultural fields, golf courses, athletic fields and other places with short vegetation. They live in both wet and dry environments. This Killdeer chick may only be a day or twoContinue reading “Killdeer Family”

The Yellow Warbler is one of the warblers that migrates to my area of the US instead of through it on its way north. The prominent black eye and those distinctive rusty streaks on its breast are its notable characters, although females don’t have noticeable streaking.

New arrivals this spring: Canada Goose, Mute Swan and Mallards.

The difference between a bird’s plumage during breeding season and during the rest of the year can be quite striking. This is a male Long-tailed Duck in non-breeding plumage that I photographed this past winter. And this is a male that I photographed recently in Maine that is in its breeding plumage. We don’t oftenContinue reading “Long-tailed Duck – Plumage Swap”

One of my favorite warblers. The Common Yellowthroat has a dashing look with that black mask. Typically flitting around deep within the low shrubs and other vegetation, they come out to show off once in a while.

This handsome warbler breeds here in Massachusetts. They nest in open woodlands in much of the US and Canada. They winter in Central America, northern South America and the Caribbean islands. They are very active insectivores, constantly flitting and hopping through the trees in search of prey. It’s a real challenge for the photographer. TheContinue reading “American Redstart”