Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) record shot between gulls
Normally I crop the photos that I take and show to everyone here on RTPI’s website and social media, but in this case I liked the framing of the raw photograph. Can you see that dot in the middle? Even if this record shot were cropped you would not be able to see much more of the Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) flying out over Long Island Sound from last weekend’s Christmas Bird Count in Stratford, Connecticut. These Ring-billed Gulls happened to be in flight all around me as the rare but increasingly recorded bird passed by offshore. It was one of two Gannets we saw while...
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...
Read MorePerpetual golden shades
It seems like we cannot stop producing yellow and bright golden shades this autumn as many trees are still hanging on to leaves. The seemingly perpetual color is certainly welcome to stick around for as long as it likes. Even a few maples are continuing to produce a lot of bright hues at this late fall foliage date. Go outside and enjoy it all this weekend, even with the chillier November air!
Read MoreHunting Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
This Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is on the hunt and you can tell this is the case by seeing where its head and eyes are pointed – straight down. It is also holding its wings and tail in positions for a lazy, floating flight. While it is not hovering it is using the wind to slowly comb over the landscape in search of small mammals. Even if you are far from the bird, like I was in this photo, you can often still see the distinctive “belly band” of dark splotches across the white undersides. We are about to hit the peak of their migration in the Northeast so be on the...
Read MoreFlower Crab Spiders (Misumena vatia)
Flower Crab Spiders (Misumena vatia) are common in temperate zones throughout the northern hemisphere, but they are not easily seen. Even when photographed up close, Meet Your Neighbours-style, they still simply vanish in their natural habitat. Due to their ability to change color between yellow and white (by either incorporating or excreting a yellow pigment into their outer cell layer, respectively) they manage to create the perfect shade of camouflage make-up to blend in with white or yellow flowers in your backyard. You’ll see them during summer and fall, hunting for pollinators...
Read More
