web analytics

Posts Tagged "tide"

Harlequin Duck at Stratford Point

Posted on Nov 16, 2017

Harlequin Duck at Stratford Point

Today we were fortunate enough to host a drake Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) at Stratford Point as found by our friend Tom Murray. I took the below photo in the later afternoon during a brief moment when the sun came out from behind the clouds. These additional shots were taken earlier in the morning under those aforementioned clouds while the duck was feeding, swimming, preening, and loving those rocks as the species always does. Harlequin Ducks are a relatively rare visitor for us in Connecticut. If it is anything like the last drake Harlequin (could it be the same bird?) that...

Read More

Star Set

Posted on Jul 29, 2016

Star Set

The sun has never looked more like a star than in this sunset! I recently photographed the bright glowing globe in these shots by aiming the camera at it rather than looking through the viewfinder, and thankfully the horizon helped make it a bigger target. As it dropped behind the trees it slowly lost intensity and became a perfect orange orb. Aren’t we lucky to have such a close friend? It is obvious, but it is unfathomable how perfectly our neighborhood sorted itself out. It is our job to make sure we take care of our house here on the Earth, and we have to start doing better! We...

Read More

Gadwall Sunset

Posted on Jul 17, 2016

Gadwall Sunset

I photographed this spectacular sunset last week at Stratford Point while attempting to give it a number of different looks by changing lenses and positioning. A friendly Gadwall felt a little less friendly once it saw me approaching the water, but you can still see the duck behind the spartina in the first photo. That spartina is slowly regenerating and growing in to the intertidal zone, helping to protect and preserve the low energy side of the site from tidal and wave action. There are still plenty of pools for long-legged waders to feed in on small fish like sand lance, and there are...

Read More

Crab Breakfast

Posted on Oct 9, 2015

Crab Breakfast

Did you have crab for breakfast today? I know someone who did…Harley the Harlequin Duck certainly knows fine dining. He also enjoys mussels that are easier to hold on to in that bill. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

Read More

Harlequin Duck

Posted on Oct 7, 2015

Harlequin Duck

Come on, this is getting ridiculous – Harley, our drake Harlequin Duck at Stratford Point, looks absolutely stupendous with his nearly completed beautiful blue plumage. The blue water really brings out his tones even more. Please stay with us for the winter, Harley! We think he will be off to find a hen, or at least some other members of his own species, once his molt is complete, but we have our fingers crossed that he has enjoyed his time with us and may consider sticking around. In all seriousness a bird like this is an inspirational one in that it brings in all sorts of non-birders...

Read More