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The Merlin is a small falcon. They are smaller than a Crow, about 9.5-12 inches (24-30cm) long. They have a very streaky chest, white bands in the tail and a stocky build. They lack the strong “mustache” marking that other falcons possess. They are fast, agile fliers and fierce hunters, taking small birds in flight.Continue reading “Merlin”

I took some time during the recent snow storms to photograph the visitors to my feeders. Here are a few of them adding a little color to a snowy day. The most colorful was this Eastern Bluebird. They only visit my home in the winter but nest less than a mile away at a townContinue reading “Snow Birds”

Okay. Just one quick final ducks landing post before I work on something new while sitting out a snow storm tomorrow. This is a Common Eider demonstrating the proper technique. So graceful. And then there is this guy. Needs a little practice.

Here are a few more ducks doing their landing maneuvers starting with three Long-tailed Ducks doing a group landing. This Long-tailed Duck bounced. A Harlequin does his belly surf and ends with a smile for the camera.

Is it for efficiency, fun or both? I have noticed that most sea ducks use a similar landing technique that involves belly surfing. They touch down feet first but quickly lunge forward to skid to a stop. I suspect it is done to minimize the jolt of hitting the water but it is easy toContinue reading “Landing Technique”

I like to go to the shore, get close to the water, and then just let the birds do the work. There can be quite of variety of subjects that swim, float or fly by. These photographs are from Halibut Point in Rockport, Massachusetts. You need to pick a spot that is just beyond whereContinue reading “View from the Rocks”

These are some photos of a female White-winged Scoter feasting on crabs. She caught quite a few while I watched. This was the last one I saw her catch. It took her a while to get it positioned so that she could swallow it. Quite a meal! Yes, she swallowed the entire crab. Scoters canContinue reading “Crab Lunch”

My last post showed Harlequin Ducks in a heavy surf close to shore. Lots of other ducks weren’t deterred by large swells and choppy water. They just stayed further away from the rocks than the crazier Harlequins. Black Scoters flew into the rough waters and rode the waves several yards from shore. I also spottedContinue reading “More Surf Action”

Harlequin Ducks are noted for the male’s colorful plumage. But they are also well-known rough water lovers. They feed close to rocky shores in heavy surf in the winter and in turbulent streams and rivers in the summer. Broken bones are quite common among these ducks. This is a male I photographed riding heavy swellsContinue reading “Surf’s Up”

It was a cold morning at the beach. Not nearly as cold as the recent arctic front though. There were ducks, gulls and loons in the distance. But a few birds came close enough for photographs. First, a Horned Grebe was swimming and diving just past the surf line. Three Razorbills swam past a bitContinue reading “Cold Morning at the Beach”