Snowy Owl December Update
If you are in Connecticut please be sure to check out winter birding forecast #1 brought to you by Audubon Connecticut and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. We will have more information on that new aspect of our partnership effort soon! In the month since I last posted an extended update about the 2014-2015 Snowy Owl irruption we have had a great number of additional birds coming south into the continental United States. Southern parts of Canada are also recording more owls at expected locations. The most intriguing part of their movement, in my opinion, is how Snowy...
Read MoreRed Knots Federally Threatened
Last week the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced that the rufa subspecies of Red Knot was officially added to the United States Endangered Species Act, designated as “threatened”. In this photo by Twan we have a group of Red Knots in front of some Black-bellied Plovers on a beach in Stratford, Connecticut in September 2011. They are an uncommon shorebird in the state but there can be pockets of them found, especially in the fall. Many times one records a handful of birds occasionally mixed in with larger congregations of other shorebird species, like in the shot. We have...
Read MorePlanning meeting for Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds
If you haven’t noticed we at RTPI are going to make a more concerted effort to show you all what really goes on during our work days. Many of the beautiful birds and other creatures we post to share and enjoy are taken during a very tiny slice of our time. Today I spent the afternoon meeting with our friends and partners from Audubon Connecticut at the Audubon Center at Bent of the River in Southbury, Connecticut. We discussed our partnership efforts in the upcoming 2015 season for the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds. Pictured here are Audubon Connecticut’s Patrick...
Read MoreSnowy Owl irruption…underway? Again?!
Yes, my friends, here we are again! Is a Snowy Owl irruption into the southern parts of Canada and the lower 48 states already underway? The answer certainly looks to be a firm yes considering recent list serv reports. The eBird Snowy Owl map below highlights sightings from August 1, 2014 through November 9, 2014. It also says yes… Remember that sightings in the last 30 days are in bright orange. Look how far south some birds have already been spotted! Now let us remember that a certain number of Snowy Owls move to the south every winter. If you live near a major migratory corridor or...
Read MoreMonarch on goldenrod
This Monarch was feeding on goldenrod right on the edge of the coastal bluff, being whipped back and forth by the steady breeze and occasionally strong gusts of wind. It is impressive to see how well they can hang on, keeping a low profile and closed wings to prevent being literally blown away. Those beautiful black and orange sails are useful but could be potentially dangerous if not managed correctly!
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