Brown Creeper
Brown Creepers must be the winner in the category of “most calm, friendly and tame birds that are yet the most difficult to get a good photo of” because they stay glued to the tree bark and rarely stop moving, spiraling up and down the trunk. They examine every crevice they can for any small insects or spiders, locking those big feet on the bark and staying steady with their long tail, using that large curved bill to snag their snack. I have plenty of semi-blurry photos of the species and even more that are too dark or obstructed. Today I took out my camera to photograph a few of...
Read MoreYellow-bellied Sapsucker
Oh man, here we go again, another Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) looking like bark! This individual is surrounded by wells that it and others of its species have drilled, one of many such trees in an orchard in a town park. This wintering area is obviously a productive spot and when you can look like a tree all day long, even if you’re an occasionally louder than usual tree, no one is going to bother you.
Read MoreAutumn Leaves
There have been a lot of bright pink autumn leaves to go along with the lemon yellow painted on the trees during this fall foliage season. The past week has yielded some gorgeous October weather. If you look a little closer you may end up seeing something other than a leaf flying off in the breeze – that is a Yellow-rumped Warbler flitting between the trees, one of millions on the move right now. Migration started strong again last night behind another cold front, and it should continue through the weekend. Good birding, and good autumning! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
Read MoreGoodbye to the Green
Say goodbye to the green leaves because the last of them seem to be leaving the Northeast this week! Some of our oaks and the later changing tree species will be hanging on a bit more, but the colors are really popping now…here, there and everywhere.
Read MoreBark or Bird?
What do you see here? If the scene were in the darker shade that it was in real life, without this edited photo, you might simply see a tree. I never realized how much juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus varius) look like bark! I suppose that helps to give them a little privacy when they are drilling into it while feeding and in a stationary, somewhat vulnerable position for a prolonged period of time. In this case this migrant bird was moving around looking for something a little more suitable at a stopover site. Have you found a Sapsucker in your yard this month? So many birds...
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