Big Monarch
I am in the enviable position of staring at around ten or twenty different Monarch butterflies each day, at least. I have a good running impression of them by now, so when I see a unique individual it strikes me instantly. This female Monarch seemed to be very large, though the scale does not show that well in these photos. I watched her feeding, moving about the goldenrod, and flying around a bit, all with the same larger than typical feeling. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreRadar Migration October 1, 2015
Here is an impressive view of the eastern United States just after midnight today, October 1, 2015. The precipitation we can see south of New England over the ocean and into the Mid-Atlantic and south is from a cold front that passed through yesterday and is now nearly stationary. It allowed migrant birds to take to the air on subsequent strong northerly winds. However, this front will creep back to the west, and we do not yet know what Hurricane Joaquin will do to the east coast. It will most likely thread the needle between an Atlantic high and a coastal low, moving into the Mid-Atlantic...
Read MoreLate Eastern Kingbirds
These Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) are running a bit behind schedule, and September 30 is now the latest sighting of the species I have had in Connecticut. These photos are of two continuing birds at Stratford Point, the first two shots of the same individual taken against the blue sky on September 28, and the other two being one of each while viewed simultaneously after a cold frontal passage today on September 30. My previous late date was September 19, 2011 at the Boothe Park Hawk Watch. Fortunately for these birds it has been an extremely and historically warm September, but...
Read MoreExplosive fall foliage continues
The explosive fall foliage continues throughout the Northeast! I took this photo several hours ago on a warm, sunny and gorgeous October afternoon. I have been all over New York and Connecticut in the past month and it seems to me we are having a protracted season of autumn colors without an all-encompassing week. There are plenty of bare trees, some still green, and many showing off sparkling fall shades. We will be sure to show you more of these seasonal sights this week along with some Halloween fun in the mix, too. Walking out the door on days like this makes me happy! Scott Kruitbosch...
Read MoreTurkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Here’s a Halloween-themed sight! Non-hawk watchers often ask me, “How do you know if a Turkey Vulture is migrating?” instead of it soaring around looking for a meal. Even this photo can help explain that to some degree. Most folks, even non-birders, can picture a Turkey Vulture in the sky with wings extended, held straight, in a dihedral – wings angled above horizontal. Sometimes this is dramatic and the bird looks like it is making a V. However, if this photo was a silhouette you may think Osprey before anything else. Turkey Vultures on the move at lofty heights,...
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