Snowy Egret in November
I photographed this Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) earlier this week in Stratford, Connecticut, while it preened around some American Coot, Mallard, American Black Duck and Gadwall. This is not a Thanksgiving bird to expect in New England. I had no idea that Connecticut had relocated to the Gulf Coast! Thank you, climate change. Who needs to travel thousands of miles when you can park yourself in this northern tropical paradise? Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreSwath of sparrows
This swath of sparrows was below our feeders at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History here in Jamestown, New York. Can you identify all four species? From left to right we have the White-throated Sparrow, a Song Sparrow in front of a Fox Sparrow, and a Dark-eyed Junco. Yep, there is also another hidden White-throated Sparrow! There will be a bunch of busy feeders with hungry birds in the Northeast this Thanksgiving after a Nor’easter dumped a mix of rain, sleet and snow on the Mid-Atlantic and New England, leaving some with snowy holiday morning. Happy...
Read MoreNorthern Saw-whet Owl movement continues
If you are anywhere in New England or the Mid-Atlantic it is a great time to be watching for Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus). You will not likely find them like this as it is a photo RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser took while netting and banding more of the species on the move through New Jersey. Nevertheless, you cannot win if you do not play! Take a look at any dense vegetation you come across as they are often near our eye level. They frequently choose evergreen trees to roost in and will stay buried between thick branches or near the trunk. Of course you can always rely on...
Read MoreOverwintering Great Egrets
Would you believe that I took this photo of a Great Egret (Ardea alba) in Connecticut only last week? It is exceptionally true and resident birders in New England can attest to the fact that we now have them as an overwintering species! Climate change is starting to allow us to keep more long-legged waders and shorebirds, such as the American Oystercatcher, year-round in parts of Long Island Sound and the New England Atlantic coastline. Why bother leaving when you can make it through the entire season? Migration is the most perilous part of the life of a bird and while a colder than usual or...
Read MoreAvian migration and high pressures – September 28, 2014
Did you enjoy the summer-like weather across the Northeast this weekend? At this time of year if it feels that gorgeous and benefits warm weather lovers it denies the birds a cooperative migratory flight. This radar grab from a few minutes ago shows very light migration across much of New England and the upper Mid-Atlantic thanks to a few weak areas of high pressure giving us this warmth and mostly calm or light southerly winds. One high is centered over Lake Michigan, another between Iowa and Missouri and a third in Virginia, with all three causing the only decent avian movement to be found...
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