Fiery Winter Sunset
Even when the ground looks bare or brown without the expected snow cover the sky can still be on fire, even in the middle of winter. You can practically feel the heat in these shots of our cold atmosphere being torched by the setting sun last evening.
Read MoreAutumn Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
This beautiful Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) posed wonderfully for me in the shade earlier today, taking a quick break from foraging in mounds of leaf litter. They are a shy species that can be found on the edges of forests and woodlands, even your yard, if there is enough space and habitat for them to find insects. As we near the winter their diet is going to shift to include various berries. I was surprised to find several of them this weekend, possibly having moved south and been more boldly active given all of the cold temperatures lately. They will enjoy this warm-up making bug...
Read MoreTufted Titmouse digging in leaf litter
Can you identify this bird with its back to us? The Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) does not have legs and feet specifically designed to scratch at the earth that many sparrows possess. Even if it did they would have a tough time getting through these layers of leaves. This bird was ripping away with its bill, leaf by leaf, sifting through them to find some food. It was an organized, frantic and impressively strong leaf tossing frenzy. Good hunting, little one!
Read MoreFall foliage turns to brown
Even at this mid-November date there are still areas of fall foliage clinging to trees in the Northeast. The prolonged autumn season has left us dark orange, red and brown leaves that have a haunting hue in the setting sun against the slate-colored clouds. The coming cold and snow will mark the end of their prolonged reign against our skyline.
Read MoreDark-eyed Junco variation
The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) is a favorite of mine from years of feeder watching. Staring at dozens of them at a time through the glass and thousands upon thousands over the years certainly taught me that they are such a variable species in terms of appearance. Not only do the browns, grays, and tans take on different hues, the birds sometimes appear to have distinct features that are not “right” for the species with streaking on the belly or flanks, eye-rings, and even wing bars! On a dark and dreary autumn day it can be a lot of fun to find a flock of birds to examine...
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