Louisiana Waterthrush
RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser and I were happy to hear that a Louisiana Waterthrush had already made its way to Connecticut in late March, besting early arrival records in what may be an early spring for many birds – despite this current arctic rebuke. There are even some Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Purple Martins in the Northeast! Birds like them have a very difficult time getting through freezing conditions, and with overnight lows going deep into the 20s it is going to be a rough ride for these bold returning individuals. This particular photo by Sean is of an individual captured in...
Read MoreBird Migration on Radar – March 31
Here is a radar grab of the eastern United States from just after midnight today with light bird migration occurring from the deep south all the way through Maine. A warm front had lifted through the Northeast while areas of heavy rain and thunderstorms associated with a soon to come cold front stretched across the Midwest. Areas near Georgia into the Carolinas and Delmarva appear to have had moderate migration occurring. At this time of the year we have everything from ducks to wintering friends like the Dark-eyed Junco to early arrivals like Pine Warbler, both kinglets, Chipping Sparrow,...
Read MoreLouisiana Waterthrush
This is a Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) photographed on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, where it was recaptured after being banded in a previous year. Costa Rica has both species of waterthrush residing throughout the wintering season in a wide variety of habitats, but much like in the states it is usually found along an area with a water source nearby. The Louisiana Waterthrush is usually more commonly found on this Caribbean slope of Costa Rica, but I’ve caught it on the Pacific side as well. Seemingly its distribution isn’t fully understood yet due to its...
Read MoreApril migrants at the College Lodge
This morning I visited the SUNY College Lodge, a site which you can find in our Natural History Atlas at this link. Our staff is currently conducting a year-long plant and wildlife assessment of the approximately 200-acre property owned and operated by the Faculty Student Association of SUNY Fredonia. My main target today was the beginning of the big push of migrant birds we will be enjoying throughout the region for the next month. Despite the cool weather there are still many species filtering into through the area in late April, as usual. One of the first birds I heard was the...
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