Gull Feeding Frenzy
There have been enormous numbers of gulls feeding in Long Island Sound over the past few months with sizable numbers of bait fish and schools of other species to prey on. This is before today’s mega and historic weather-based Franklin’s Gull invasion of the Northeast! More on that later…but going back to this summer and early fall, the busy food web has even attracted several whales into the waters. Laughing Gulls, absent for much of the summer, have been seen in great abundance since late summer. Their activity, along with that of Ring-billed and Herring Gulls, brought in...
Read MoreParasitic Jaeger
Here are a couple greats photos of a Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) via our friend, superb birder and expert naturalist Frank Mantlik as seen from Stratford Point a couple of weeks ago. Long Island Sound has been alive with everything from humpback whale sightings to various uncommon or rare fish, turtles and birds. This Parasitic Jaeger looks like an intermediate morph juvenile, and you can see it chasing a juvenile Laughing Gull in one of the photos. We observed this behavior from at least a few individual Parasitic Jaegers over several days during feeding frenzies involving...
Read MoreOsprey Pole
Kind of like Snowy Owls in the winter, one could spend their summer wandering around and photographing Ospreys on all types of poles – the classic utility, the specialized power structure, the flag, the lamp or streetlight as seen here…hey, whether it’s for a meal or a nap, these poles are darn comfy! Maybe we are missing out on something…pass the fish, please. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreBald Eagle in Florida
Twan took this shot of an immature Bald Eagle in flight in Florida, the bird spending its winter in a far more pleasant climate. In the Northeast we have had a lot of Bald Eagle action during all of these historically frigid days with the enormous raptor hunting waterfowl on any open water it can find and grabbing fish from icy rivers.
Read MoreBelted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
While we may be looking for more of that “winter” feeling and some seasonal snowfall, especially in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region for our winter trails cell phone tour, this Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) was enjoying an open pond to fish in. After chatting with me for a little bit, rattling away, it went back to its business, looking for prey and then up to the sky. Perhaps it was wondering where all that snow is… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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