Harlequin Duck Video
Here is some HD video of that drake Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) doing all sorts of preening as he molts into his stunning breeding season shades. He seems content while working away at his feathers on a hot and sunny September day with Herring and Laughing Gulls on the rocks off Stratford Point in Stratford, Connecticut.
Read MoreHarlequin Duck
This is a drake Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) that is in the middle of molting into that gorgeously patterned blue breeding plumage. It may not be winter yet but they do enjoy wintering on rocky, surf-battered coastal shores like this one here at Stratford Point in Stratford, Connecticut. Between the fact it is doing nonstop preening as its fresh feathers come in, thus making a long uncertain flight an unpleasant notion, and the quality of the habitat here we feel like we stand a good chance of keeping this bird for a while. Fingers crossed! He will be a real stunner soon. Scott...
Read MoreYellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
This Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) was a spectacular surprise for me this morning after a night of strong passerine migration. Cuckoos are not that uncommon, but getting actually decent and prolonged glimpses at them are! This cooperative bird even let me snap a couple of recognizable photos. It was much more interested in feeding, albeit in the shade of the bright morning sun, than worrying about me watching it. What are some of the highlights of your “fall” birding so far? We are finally saying goodbye to many of our summer birds, on the cusp of welcoming some of...
Read MoreCoastal Adventure
The other week I had the opportunity to adventure out to Connecticut and Rhode Island for a week of learning. As you all know, we have a number of projects running in coastal Connecticut monitoring shorebirds and educating the public about the many federally and state listed species that reside there, and we have some wonderful RTPI staff stationed there as well. On my trip I was able to spend some time with Scott Kruitbosch, our Conservation and Outreach Coordinator, looking at several of the sites where projects for shorebirds, migrating raptors and coastal remediation are taking place. It...
Read MoreQueen Anne’s Lace
There has been an abundance of Queen Anne’s Lace in fields and grasslands this summer, like the this photo from a couple weeks ago at Stratford Point. Is the generally dry and warmer than usual season to blame? A moderate drought is taking hold in coastal Connecticut with conditions starting to get serious. The green below is gone and it’s already a brown and wilting beginning to this meteorological autumn. Rain as soon as possible, please, and lots of it!
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