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Posts Tagged "hidden"

Exposed Nest

Posted on Dec 22, 2015

Exposed Nest

The onset of winter always exposes other parts of nature that we may have missed earlier in the year. In this case this looks to possibly be a Baltimore Oriole nest on a tree near a pond. I visited this spot a few times during what would have been the breeding season, but I did not notice them way up there among the leaves. I wonder how successful they were and if all of their nestlings made it out into the world. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

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Celery Looper (Anagrapha falcifera)

Posted on Jul 2, 2015

Celery Looper (Anagrapha falcifera)

Here are a couple of shots of the relatively tame and relaxed Celery Looper (Anagrapha falcifera). While it actually blended in to this paint job relatively well, imagine it on a dead or decaying leaf, the rotting organic material curling up into similar patterns with a perfect color match. Sometimes I feel that I should be checking for moths more in their native habitats, right on their host plants instead of at convenient lights or by setting up ultraviolet sources…but that would take far longer and be much less productive with how well some of them can hide, and I do feel good about...

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Hidden American Woodcocks

Posted on Mar 8, 2015

Hidden American Woodcocks

March is the month for the American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) as the species heads north to (hopefully) unfrozen earth, with males arriving as quickly as they can to set up on the best territory for their legendary display flights. This year’s polar lock on the region may slow them down as feeding will be very difficult, if not impossible, for another week or two at least. Open fields and meadows adjacent to wetlands, marshes and scrubby/shrubby lands are good places to wait for their evening aerial dances later in the month. I photographed these two birds in the early winter, long...

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Mottled Owl (Strix virgata)

Posted on Jan 30, 2015

Mottled Owl (Strix virgata)

You never know what is under the leaves, and in the tropics that sort of sentiment gets bumped up a few levels of size and greatness. Here we have a well-hidden Mottled Owl (Strix virgata) as photographed at Cabo Blanco in Costa Rica by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser. It is not too different from the Barred Owl that could be roosting in your pine tree right now!

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Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

Posted on Nov 2, 2014

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

One of my favorite parts of the chilly month of November is the return of the Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) which becomes widespread after most of the other sparrow species have passed through or established winter territory. As you may have seen at your feeders this relatively large sparrow is a big time kicker, making feeding in the early season leaf litter and snow much easier. They are often difficult birds to dig up on Christmas Bird Counts as they are shy and like to remain hidden or close to a ready escape most of the time. If you have never had one in your yard try placing seed on...

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