Blue-winged Teals
During this strange weather – spring in winter, winter in spring, and a mix of both back and forth – we still have birds fighting their way to the north. On days with a strong southerly flow there is plenty of migration occurring, and while we will soon have yards full of brightly colored songbirds, there are some wonderful waterfowl species coming through, too. The drake Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) featured in these two distant photos was in the company of a hen and one other pair, all four swimming, preening and resting in a pond among American Black Ducks.
Read MoreGreen-winged Teal Size
I took this photo and I still can’t mentally process it correctly. Here we have a drake Green-winged Teal in front of an American Black Duck with Gadwall, American Coot, Mallard, among others. Teals are certainly small ducks, but that bird looks tiny compared to its friends. They are very close to one another and the little teal is closer to me…what a size difference in every feature! This guy seems like a toy in front of the Black Duck on a cold and snowy day. There will not be many more of those left… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
Read MoreHidden Wood Duck
This pond had a bunch of Mallards, American Black Ducks, and some hybrids…and hidden in the back were a couple of Wood Ducks, a treat for a December day when this water could very well have been frozen over in many other years. I hope you will be able to put on your t-shirt and shorts and get outside to enjoy this unfathomable stretch of holiday heat this weekend. See what you can find and keep an open mind – in the past week I have seen uncommon lingering birds like these, a dragonfly (Autumn Meadowhawk) and a butterfly (Orange Sulphur). It’s unbelievable! Scott Kruitbosch...
Read MoreBrant
Very few waterfowl species have been seen in any sizable numbers consistently in Long Island Sound in November and early December. Some of the chillier night air, along with the calendar, is finally pushing additional birds more to the south. One exception has been the Atlantic Brant, with hundreds of birds being seen on many days. They are starting to dwindle as they head for even warmer quarters as finally more American Black Duck, Gadwall, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated and Common Loons, American Wigeon and others arrive. Even while noting additional species their overall abundance...
Read MoreSnowy Egret in November
I photographed this Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) earlier this week in Stratford, Connecticut, while it preened around some American Coot, Mallard, American Black Duck and Gadwall. This is not a Thanksgiving bird to expect in New England. I had no idea that Connecticut had relocated to the Gulf Coast! Thank you, climate change. Who needs to travel thousands of miles when you can park yourself in this northern tropical paradise? Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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