Eastern Forktails
One of the first spring damselflies to be seen, and one of our most abundant: The Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis). As you can see the males and females can show a variety of coloration. Sean loves seeing fields and areas with water just filled with these jewels of all different colors. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Connecticut for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
Read MoreBlackpoll Warbler
This female Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) gave me decent views on a cloudy, foggy morning, but of course the one photo she posed perfectly for – and actually stopped gleaning snacks for a moment – involved a stick over her face. Naturally! May migration continues as we wrap the movement up in the last couple weeks of the month with the later species like this one. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreEastern Towhee Pair
There have been many, many Eastern Towhees (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) moving through in the last few weeks, some likely scratching away at your yard and feeders. Both the black male and brown female shown here, as recently photographed in Jamestown, New York, really do have lovely shades! Drink your tea…towhee! And Happy Mother’s Day to you and all the soon to be mothers like this one out there.
Read MoreMale Yellow Warbler
This male Yellow Warbler is ready to take up residence in your garden! Their abundance, friendliness, and usage of habitats in open areas and often near people help make them an easy target for Brown-headed Cowbirds. After the Yellows build their nest a female Cowbird may end up putting an egg in it as well. While some Yellow Warblers will end up raising this young bird to the detriment of its own, others will build another nest over the original parasitized one. It is always an odd sight to spot a huge Cowbird fledgling being fed by the little Yellow parent. But for now all this guy is...
Read MoreOrchard Orioles
This morning was a terrific one for yet more orioles! After being lucky enough to get a nice pose from a male Baltimore Oriole yesterday, I was able to get a couple decent photos of both female and male Orchard Orioles (Icterus spurius) today. The only reason they stopped at such low levels for me even for a moment was because the ladies were actively having to avoid all the guys chasing after them. Here is hoping I get to enjoy watching a pair building a nest soon. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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