Common Redpoll Irruption Update
This is a companion blog entry to the Winter Bird Forecast by Audubon Connecticut and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. The first two forecasts were published recently: “Cloudy with a Chance of Snowys” and “Expect the Unexpected”. The third will be coming soon! The Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) was predicted to make a “moderate to good flight” this fall and winter due to “variably poor to average” birch seed crops in the boreal forest according to Ron Pittaway’s 2014-15 winter finch forecast. Nearly a month ago I started to notice more reports...
Read MoreExpect the Unexpected
Winter Birding Forecast #2 is brought to you by Audubon Connecticut in partnership with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. The relatively mild December is making for great birding opportunities as we close out 2014. So called “half-hardy” birds such as Gray Catbird, Pine Warbler and Common Yellowthroat are putting in appearances on Christmas Bird Count (CBC) checklists and birds like Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren and Eastern Bluebird are being found in good numbers as are Yellow-rumped Warblers at some coastal locations. One of the biggest surprises of the week was the...
Read MoreWinter Birding Forecast #2 – Expect the Unexpected
Here is Winter Birding Forecast #2 brought to you by Audubon Connecticut and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, written by Patrick Comins, Director of Bird Conservation, Audubon Connecticut with Scott Kruitbosch, Conservation & Outreach Coordinator, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. Have a Merry Christmas and enjoy some time outdoors birding with family and friends tomorrow! Maybe you’ll find a Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) like this one…
Read MoreWinter Bird Forecasts with Audubon Connecticut
Please be sure to visit this link on the Audubon Connecticut website to learn more about the Winter Bird Forecast that we at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History are creating with our friends and partners at Audubon Connecticut. These weekly updates will keep you apprised of what avian wonders have been seen recently and what we expect to find in the upcoming period, from Snowy Owls to rare or important waterfowl, gulls, shorebirds, landbirds, waterbirds and other raptors. Birding over the holiday season can be a terrific way to get outdoors and spend time with family and...
Read MoreCloudy with a Chance of Snowys
This is the first of a series of Winter Birds Forecasts focused on Connecticut and the surrounding region brought to you by Audubon Connecticut and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History and written by Patrick Comins, Director of Bird Conservation, Audubon Connecticut with Scott Kruitbosch, Conservation & Outreach Coordinator, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. Photos by Patrick Comins. A spate of early sightings of Snowy Owls in the Northeast has the birding community excited for a possible repeat of last year’s mega irruption that saw dozens of sightings of...
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