Bobolink
The Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) are back! This bird of the grasslands is returning to those habitats and fields or farms across the region. This is a good time to find males like this one perched on tall grass or hedgerows, fluttering and calling out with their bubbly, rich song. You may find migrant flocks with a bunch of them all quite conspicuous – at least for now, before nesting season begins. This individual perched on a white pine along with a few others while overlooking a grassland. There is no better reason than hosting some families of Bobolinks to let your grassland,...
Read MoreBlue-winged Warbler Portrait
Here’s another one of RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser’s portraits – the Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera). He says it is one of the birds that really got him into ornithology, and that their relationship with the Golden-winged Warbler and systematic life cycles with this species in habitats fascinated him at an early age.
Read MorePearl Crescent
Here is a Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) butterfly as photographed in the grass last week – the insects are coming!
Read MoreYellow Warbler
They may be all over, but it is hard for me to resist targeting my camera to a Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) in May. This guy was another one of the beautiful sights during last weekend’s Noble Proctor BioBlitz Challenge. It seems as if more are still migrating through, actually – this spring started early but ended up late. After all the warmth in the beginning of the season poor migratory conditions in late April and early May pushed a lot of birds back to “traditional” sort of arrival dates…or even later! It certainly feels like we have a lot of birds...
Read MoreCanada Warbler
It was a strong morning for migration in my neighborhood with oak trees holding Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, and my first of year Blackpoll Warbler among good numbers of the regulars. For the most part birds were high and far in the tops of the trees, but this Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) was a little more cooperative highlight. For a bird I am happy to see one or two of each spring…I will take it! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreOrchard Oriole
This adult male Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) is a Stratford Point resident, deftly avoiding our cameras for the most part while feeding mostly in the canopy. Occasionally he drops down closer to eye level, and he has been seen copulating with our resident female. It is likely that we will once again have a nesting pair on site. The family grows up quickly though, and even by the end of July this guy may be heading back to Central America. When they are not vocalizing they can be surprisingly inconspicuous. This is probably the best time of year to get some good views of them without...
Read More
