Ipswich Savannah Sparrow
The Savannah Sparrow is a familiar bird to many of us, abundant in our farmlands, fields, grasslands, shrublands, shores, roadsides, and other open habitats. You can find them across the northern U.S. and Canada during the nesting and migration seasons, and you’ll spot them overwintering in the southern U.S. or Mexico. This particular individual looks a little different than your average Savannah Sparrow – notice anything unusual? It is somewhat larger and heavier that a typical Savannah Sparrow, and its brown shades and yellow eye spot are considerably paler. This is an...
Read MoreGreen-breasted Mangos
Since everyone loves these tails here is another shot of both male and female Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii) hummingbirds all lined up by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser. He will definitely be doing more of this photography during his next tropical research trip.
Read MoreBlue-winged Teal Hen
The hen Blue-winged Teal is rather skilled at going unnoticed with its drab colors and comparatively tiny size to some of the other ducks it may be spotted hanging out with. We do not get to see too many of them outside of the summer or migration, but this was a recent sighting thanks to the relatively warm weather keeping some water open. What intriguing waterfowl sightings have you had this winter?
Read MoreBlue Jay End
Speaking of hawks, it appears that I came upon the final remains of a Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) this morning with this very large pile of feathers strewn about under a small tree. The raptor sat here in a relatively quiet spot and plucked its prey, leaving little else behind. I would guess that an accipiter – probably a Cooper’s Hawk, but possibly a Sharp-shinned – took this Blue Jay hours earlier. It may not be the most enjoyable find for some, but it is the cycle of life in nature, and that hawk has to try to survive, too. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
Read MoreRed-shouldered Hawk
This is not one of the winter raptors we have trained our volunteers to record this season, but I will nonetheless take it. The Red-shouldered Hawk seen here was photographed earlier today while very engaged in tracking some sort of prey. It flew off a moment after this, attempting to go for it on the ground, then after missing out it flew into another tree across the street. I did not see what it was after but some small mammal was lucky – at least for the moment. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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