Red Fox Family
Today I saw some of the first young of the spring season in the form of at least three Red Fox pups/cubs/kits. There are likely a few more of them that stayed in their den, but on a cold and cloudy day with quiet surroundings part of the family ventured out to get a little air. Mom stayed in the grass near them, watching and listening. She looks relaxed in these photos because I was shooting from afar through a window. They are, in a word, adorable. They are also extremely tiny compared to her already small stature. These are very young pups! Despite the fact they are mammalian predators mom...
Read MoreExpect the Unexpected
Winter Birding Forecast #2 is brought to you by Audubon Connecticut in partnership with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. The relatively mild December is making for great birding opportunities as we close out 2014. So called “half-hardy” birds such as Gray Catbird, Pine Warbler and Common Yellowthroat are putting in appearances on Christmas Bird Count (CBC) checklists and birds like Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren and Eastern Bluebird are being found in good numbers as are Yellow-rumped Warblers at some coastal locations. One of the biggest surprises of the week was the...
Read MoreAmerican Coot (Fulica americana) in the rain
This American Coot (Fulica americana) was photographed earlier this week, not trying to dodge any of the drops while displaying its waterproof winter coat. We have had to wear our waterproof jackets frequently lately as much of the Northeast has been targeted with a lot more rain than snow. We currently have a couple of unseasonably warm and sunny days on tap which at least provide a great excuse to get outdoors to enjoy the winter wonders of nature with family and friends. By this time next week the temperature will have dropped and we may be thinking about snow to start off 2015. We all...
Read MoreWinter Birding Forecast #2 – Expect the Unexpected
Here is Winter Birding Forecast #2 brought to you by Audubon Connecticut and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, written by Patrick Comins, Director of Bird Conservation, Audubon Connecticut with Scott Kruitbosch, Conservation & Outreach Coordinator, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History. Have a Merry Christmas and enjoy some time outdoors birding with family and friends tomorrow! Maybe you’ll find a Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) like this one…
Read MoreWinter Bird Forecasts with Audubon Connecticut
Please be sure to visit this link on the Audubon Connecticut website to learn more about the Winter Bird Forecast that we at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History are creating with our friends and partners at Audubon Connecticut. These weekly updates will keep you apprised of what avian wonders have been seen recently and what we expect to find in the upcoming period, from Snowy Owls to rare or important waterfowl, gulls, shorebirds, landbirds, waterbirds and other raptors. Birding over the holiday season can be a terrific way to get outdoors and spend time with family and...
Read More
