Overwintering 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 MoreWild Turkey: vicious predator
‘Tis now the season for the Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). I have been regularly spotting a couple of groups lately, one with around 18 individuals and another with around 8. Here is one bird passing through on a showery and cloudy afternoon. It is hard to believe how rapidly the species has expanded in many areas in the last couple of decades. Is their population increase partially responsible for a decrease in some woodlands herpetofauna? I posted a great deal about Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) this summer, and would you believe this very turkey is a potential...
Read MoreSunlight on an autumn Tulip Tree
This Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) certainly looks beautifully imposing surrounded by yellow and orange shades while bathed in golden autumn sunlight. The towering tree is magnificent against the slowly sinking sun as our days get shorter…winter will be knocking on the door soon in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region.
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 MoreSong Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
Here’s one of the what feels like thousands of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) that I saw this weekend. It’s incredible to see how much they vary from individual to individual, subspecies to subspecies, when you get to see so many migrating through the area. There are apparently 24 recognized subspecies and 52 described forms of Song Sparrows! I wish I had more time to be able to learn how to readily tell them some of them apart. Like that Red-shouldered Hawk this bird thought hiding in the shaded branches of an oak tree would make it invisible to me. Close enough! Sparrow...
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