Wintering Hermit Thrush
This is one of seemingly many (in the relative sense) Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) I have spotted in the last couple of months as this hardy species has been sticking out the late autumn in a number of my frequented locations. The bird pictured is one of those individuals. The most enigmatic sighting I had recently was with my Shetland Sheepdog a couple of weeks ago as we found a bird foraging in the lawn under a maple tree near the edge of mature woodlands. It looked at us and hopped up into one of the eye-level branches as we approached, casually watching us. It watched my dog...
Read MoreWet Mockingbird
I don’t know what a forlorn bird looks like but I think it is something close to this Northern Mockingbird thanks to some wet, cold, and dreary weather. Personally I love our four seasons and embrace the rotation of life they feature all around us. I wonder if birds like this one know spring is only a few months away… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreSweetgum tree’s gorgeous real estate
If the birds who constructed this home had done so on this Sweetgum tree during the autumn season the price for their “land” would have skyrocketed thanks to the gorgeous surroundings. Checking out trees, shrubs and other woody vegetation after the leaves fall is a good idea if you want to learn about where bird nests are built and the most favorable locations to seek out breeders next spring and summer. Sometimes you may find some previously used nests that were right under your nose, unbeknownst to you thanks to the secretive parents and a job well done.
Read MoreBlack-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) irruption
There have been Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) moving south in very subtle ways for a couple of months now. If you watch migratory hotspots you can sometimes detect their irruption years, especially if that location is not a particularly friendly habitat for the species. I have seen flocks of 10-20 birds tightly packed together and feeding on the move, possibly heading for a feeding station like yours. I always wonder what particular triggers end up notifying a widespread and highly adaptive bird like this one that they should nonetheless change their quarters for the autumn...
Read MoreRed-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
This Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) has been hanging out with RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser at Audubon Greenwich recently. Many more have been passing through as their migration has peaked in early November. There is still plenty of action in the sky even at this late autumn date.
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