Ruby-throated Hummingbird Portraits
In his continuing portrait series, RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser couldn’t get enough of this adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). He said that the bird’s gorget was one of the most stunning he had ever seen in this species and so very vibrant. This is one of the two adult males at Audubon Greenwich this breeding season. Sean has seen a lot of hummingbirds species over the years. He has now caught over 40 species during mist netting and banding operations across the Americas, and the bright red gorget of a male Ruby-throat is still one of the most splendid...
Read MoreBlack-and-white Warblers
Black-and-white Warblers (Mniotilta varia) were the most common migrant this spring in Connecticut for RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser, and he even thinks that breeding individuals may stick around at Audubon Greenwich. This is male on the left and female on the right. Only now is their migration finally winding down after a tremendous season for the species.
Read MoreDickcissel Banded
Last month I was happy to find a Dickcissel (Spiza americana) in the field as one of my autumn migration highlights, and even more thrilled to have it be so cooperative for photos. RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser actually netted a Dickcissel while banding! It turned into quite the celebrity at Audubon Greenwich with everyone stopping to take a gander at the migrating vagrant. It was only the fourth of fifth record for the Audubon Greenwich site. Sean sees them in Central America, though it was actually his first time catching one and he believes the first time seeing one in the U.S. Scott...
Read MoreBanded vs. Hickory Hairstreaks
It’s been a great year so far for the Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus) says Sean. He can typically walk around right now in favorable areas and find four or five. Recently while out walking at Audubon Greenwich he spotted a Hickory Hairstreak (Satyrium caryaevorus), a difficult hairstreak to find and get a confident identification of in Connecticut. He put together a comparison of the two to help with some of the small diagnostic differences. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Connecticut while on assignment for...
Read MoreGray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)
Sean has been hearing them every night on the main sanctuary at Audubon Greenwich, but had not had the chance to find one to photograph. A few nights ago one came to him! When he went to shut a window late one night he found this Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) had hopped in. He does not think he has ever been delivered a Meet Your Neighbours subject so nicely. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Connecticut for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
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