Resting Eurasian Wigeon
If you are participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count later this week be mindful of finding rarities like this Eurasian Wigeon in Stratford, Connecticut. You can find the species among American Wigeon most often, like this alert drake looking at me and the camera resting with some of its new American friends. Even when they tuck their heads in to sleep you can find that dark reddish/orange head with the buff-colored crown floating on the water and standing out from the green surrounding it. This upcoming Friday through Monday will be frigid but hopefully very productive birding! Scott...
Read MoreCommon Green Darners still moving
After a scorching day on Tuesday (OK, in relative mid-October temperature terms) with highs into the 80s in Western New York it is a good time to remember there are still some dragonflies migrating through our region and they are active on such cooperative days. Common Green Darners (Anax junius) are on the move and may represent some of the last green you see this year…or maybe not if they are resting or warming in pine trees like this one. What a summer feel!
Read MoreWhimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
I loved seeing this Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) surrounded by fall foliage of a more uncommon sort in the Great Meadows Marsh in Stratford, Connecticut earlier today, living up to its past (and still current) billing as one of the best coastal birding habitats in the United States according to our own Roger Tory Peterson. Are you elated for autumn yet?!
Read MoreSnowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) by Twan Leenders
Snowy Owls on utility poles here there and everywhere. They still have their eyes on you, too. This is one of the several individuals hanging in and around Jamestown seemingly for the duration of the winter now. Have you kept yours?
Read MoreSnowy Owl video: hearing test
You may have seen my recent blog entry with Snowy Owl photos depicting a “day” in the life of the species, and that very cooperative bird was sitting around long enough for me to take some HD video of it as well. It was initially not exactly the most riveting footage in history as it looked over its shoulder and away from the camera continuously (plenty shall remain unseen). However, when I wiped some snow off my jacket while I stood behind the camera it made for an unintentionally awesome hearing test. The owl clearly heard the soft wiping noise I made from a considerable...
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