Cooper’s Hawk
I have been posting many photos of migrant songbirds lately, and here is one of their predators – the Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii). This raptor of the forest is an extremely agile and talented flier, able to navigate through thick woodlands in pursuit of prey. You may recognize them from your yard as they are frequent bird feeder guests, targeting hungry passerines. They seem to be less adept at capturing prey in open areas like this one, unable to fully utilize their maneuverability and relative speed as they do in more dense habitat to surprise and outwit songbirds. This...
Read MoreBark or Bird?
What do you see here? If the scene were in the darker shade that it was in real life, without this edited photo, you might simply see a tree. I never realized how much juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus varius) look like bark! I suppose that helps to give them a little privacy when they are drilling into it while feeding and in a stationary, somewhat vulnerable position for a prolonged period of time. In this case this migrant bird was moving around looking for something a little more suitable at a stopover site. Have you found a Sapsucker in your yard this month? So many birds...
Read MoreDark-eyed Junco
It’s that time again! One of everyone’s backyard favorites, the Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis), is on the way south. These cute little birds are returning to yards like yours now if you are not one of the lucky few to have them year-round. Their autumn arrival, along with that of the White-throated Sparrow, is one of the first big signs of fall to me each October. I look forward to spending six months with friends like this. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreYellow-striped Armyworm Moth
This looks like the Yellow-striped Armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli) moth featuring a delightfully intricate and attractive pattern on those wings. There are shapes, lines, blurry patches and designs within designs. This late August sighting knew how to show off its subtle beauty.
Read MoreBlatchley Walkingstick (Manomera blatchleyi)
RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser, with some help from his ever so knowledgeable about walking sticks research partner Tyler Christensen, identified this as a Blatchley Walkingstick (Manomera blatchleyi) female. Sean said it was always a highlight to find these creatures during the summer as a child, but this was a new species for him. Wildlife can be unreal!
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