Late 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 MoreCommon Buckeye on Grass-Leaved Goldenrod
Here we have the Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) butterfly feeding on Grass-Leaved Goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia). You can see this individual has some wear and tear on its wings, but it was still flying very well. This patch of goldenrod has been extremely productive for all sorts of pollinator species, and we are hoping it yields a lot of super sightings in the next month.
Read MoreRadar Migration September 21, 2015
Here we go again! This was the radar last night around 11:00PM EST, full of nocturnal migrant birds pouring to the south after yesterday’s cold front. Go out and find them this morning and then their friends (or maybe more accurately foes) in the sky with diurnal raptor migration going on all day. Good birding to you!
Read MoreSeptember Sunset
This has been the hottest September on record thus far for many locations in the Northeast. The sultry and arid conditions have worsened a drought for much of the region. The blazing sunset here may be one of the last hot days of the year as today’s cold front should bring much more seasonable conditions for the week, albeit still a little above average in terms of temperature and far below average for precipitation in the near future. All of this is coming after a historically cold winter. What was that we used to say about climate change and the future…extremes, and more of...
Read MoreYoung Northern Mockingbird
This fledgling/juvenile Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is described as such by me because it certainly looks and acts old enough to get its own food, but it keeps on begging for a delivery. One of the parents flew in and fed it a snack a moment later. It’s September, and it is time to get going, young one! The days keep getting shorter and soon enough you will be having to find your own meals. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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