Bobcat Signs
Can you spot the mammal here? No? Well…yes, you cannot find it because it is not there, but it has left its mark…literally. What do you see? This is a Bobcat scratching post and resting area, the bark stripped away by sharp claws. You can see the lines that have been carved into the wood. It is conveniently located over a pool of water, making it harder for anything to sneak up on the bobcat when it is at rest. It almost seemed similar to a place one of our pet cats would like to enjoy a snooze on! Nearby we found this pile of scat, also Bobcat. If you have a cat at home that may help you...
Read MoreOsprey Pole
Kind of like Snowy Owls in the winter, one could spend their summer wandering around and photographing Ospreys on all types of poles – the classic utility, the specialized power structure, the flag, the lamp or streetlight as seen here…hey, whether it’s for a meal or a nap, these poles are darn comfy! Maybe we are missing out on something…pass the fish, please. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreSnowy Owl in Dunkirk, New York
This tremendous photo of a Snowy Owl at Wright Park Beach in Dunkirk, New York was taken this morning by our friend Gale VerHague. She used a basic point and shoot camera showing how easily we can safely photograph these birds from a distance thanks to a good zoom, especially if you have a scope. Giving them space is important so that they can rest during the day and hunt at night – in this case, likely waterfowl on Lake Erie. It is all the more necessary when, as Gale told me, birds like American Crows have honed in on the raptor as they were harassing this individual. Please try to...
Read MoreGreat Egret roost
What is this, November in Florida? Nope, I assure you it is New England. Here we have a distant shot featuring four of six Great Egrets that were present in a roost on a sunny November day in Connecticut. I did not want to disturb or flush them from this quiet, isolated area and stayed far away in cover. Waterbirds like this can tough it out in Connecticut thanks to our changing climate. As you can see quite literally it is not simply an aberrant bird or two. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreJuvenile Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
This juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) had landed only moments before I snapped this photo on Monday morning. Oak trees like this one, in contrast to the maple branch you can see, shed their leaves late in the autumn foliage season. As such they are an ideal spot for a young migrant like this one to stop on the way south while staying out of sight. I snapped a few photos of the bird while on the phone with RTPI’s Conservation Technician Elyse Henshaw. By the time we were off and I looked back it was already gone. Ships in the night… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation &...
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