Baltimore Oriole
They may be gone from our yards for the winter but I thought that as we near Halloween it was very appropriate to post this male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula). I enjoyed watching it feeding in an oak tree this past spring on a cool, cloudy and windy day. Do you ever have any luck getting them to come down to eye level at your feeders? I certainly do not, and this bird hopping down to the lower branches of the tree for a minute was a real treat. I hear them every day all summer long but rarely get the chance to see a glow like this one up close. RTPI’s work around the world helps...
Read MoreWhite-eyed Vireo
The White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) was high on the list of spring targets for me this year, as I have not had a good look at the species in quite some time and I certainly did not have any decent photographs of one. That sentence was past tense because I recently accomplished this mission. I certainly feel as though I can do better, but considering its behavior, the weather conditions, location, and time of day, I was happy with what I got. Can you tell why they are called White-eyed Vireos? This uncommon (at least in our region) species is often relatively elusive despite being...
Read MoreCedar Waxwing
Here is the always regal Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) posing with a friend. There were actually several other pals nearby as well. June is a good time of year to find a small flocks of waxwings in and around your neighborhood while many other birds are paired off, quiet and defending territory. In fact, it is nearly always a good time to find these gregarious birds in flocks!
Read MoreAmerican Goldfinch
This American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is not quite as gold as it could be, but who would ever complain? What an elegant and contemplative expression…
Read MoreKilldeer
I finally got around to editing these photos of a Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) taken during the Noble Proctor BioBlitz Challenge last month. The bird appeared in the first photo like any other – no big deal. Oh no, this bird is “injured”! Not so much. This is a distraction display, feigning injury, in order to draw our group away from the area and protect a nest or young hatchlings. The bird makes it look like it has a broken wing and has lost the ability to fly, attempting to tempt mammals like us into running them down for a meal (before they fly away). If we did then...
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